Musa (squatting and partly hidden), Ting (pointing) and others observing the hornbills, at the recent Hornbill Walk at Piasau Nature Reserve. — Photo by Cecilia Sman
MIRI: The Oriental Pied Hornbill population at the Piasau Nature Reserve (PNR) has increased to eight recently with the latest four new ones spotted making the reserve the nesting area in May.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) honorary ranger Musa Musbah said the four were first spotted in February by his Hornbill Watch Group.
“In February, our group saw them (hornbills) but they went away for some time and from May 6 the four hornbills came daily and made the reserve their home.
We have closely monitored two out of the four new ones and have named them Anthony and Agnes while the other two we have yet to identify them,” Musa told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Musa was among those tasked to undertake study on the hornbills and other flora and fauna at the Piasau Camp which had been gazetted as a nature reserve on April 3 this year.
He is also the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Miri branch chairman and the Piasau Camp Miri Nature Park Society (PCMNPS) deputy chairman.
Musa added the increase in the hornbill population augured well for the conservation of the hornbills (a totally protected species) at PNR, adding that the papa hornbill – Jimmy and his new soulmate, Juliet are still courting. The other two – Ah Kaw and Ah Moi were the offspring of Jimmy and Faridah (killed on Sept 26 last year).
He hoped with the establishment of the nature reserve, the people will continue to help the systematic conservation of not only the hornbills but also other species of birds and animals as well as plants in the reserve.
To date, PNR has recorded 45 species of birds including the iconic hornbills and two species of egrets.
Mammals like the palm civet, prevost and plantain squirrels, five species of amphibians, 12 species of reptiles, 10 species of butterflies and 111 plant species, including small trees and shrubs as well as four species of figs have also been recorded at the reserve.
Meanwhile, PCMNPS chairman Datuk Sebastian Ting urged members of the public to join the 13th Hornbill Walk today at the nature reserve.
Admission is free. It will start at 4pm at the car park of the old Tenby International School.
“Come and join us for the walk for good health and to appreciate the clean environment and the beautiful flora and fauna, including seeing the hornbills and other birds like the eagle and Yellow vented bulbul,” he said
Besides the walk, there will also be sale of merchandise including T-shirts, to raise funds for the various activities to be held by PCMNPS. Those interested can also register themselves as members of the society.