A bird feeds on a rat. This would be a good bird to conserve as its family would keep rats at bay. — Photo by Jool Othman
LAST Saturday, 28 nature-lovers visited the Kuala Baram Wetlands to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands to migrating birds as their winter haven and to Mirians as a tourist attraction.
Although 111 avian species have so far been found in the wetlands, the government has not come up with any proposal to conserve the area.
Conservationists feel with proper planning, the wetlands could generate additional income for locals.
The group, led by Musa Musbah, the honorary wildlife ranger of Sarawak Forestry Corporation, were suitably attired — all ready to enjoy bird-watching amidst captivating scenery under a clear blue sky. Three expats were among the avid birders.
Two local professional photographers came along. Musa himself brought more than 15kg of photographic and telescopic equipment.
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) provided 28 binoculars for the group on their first outing to the Kuala Baram Wetlands.
Musa said MNS Miri had done many Asian waterbird counts (AWC) under chairman NazeriAbghani over the past years.
They have been on bird-watching trips to many areas of the Baram Wetlands and for the first 2015 outing, the prawn farm area was also on the list of places to visit.
Musa said the Kuala Baram Wetlands had earned a name as a special bird-watching sanctuary because Crested Chinese Terns had repeatedly been spotted there.
Previous birders in Nazeri’s team can attest to this. There are only 30 Crested Chinese Terns left in the world.
According to Musa, MNS Miri looked forward to cataloguing the wetlands as a nature reserve for bird lovers all over Malaysia. Besides, being the only one near the city, the wetlands will add value to Miri as a resort city.
However, the toll for using the Asean Bridge to the Wetlands is the most expensive in Malaysia. Many find the RM20 return trip exorbitant.
Perhaps, a special season toll fare can be considered for bird-watchers and wetland visitors.
Participants of this event were mainly from MNS Miri and the general public.
Wetlands cover 600ha
The Kuala Baram Wetlands covers 600ha of marshland near the former ferry point and the mouth of the 400km long Baram River, the second longest in Sarawak.
To the west is the Lutong-Baram beach and to the east, the marshland and lagoon, which, over the past three years, had gone through some dry season that encouraged certain type of trees to grow.
Recently, with the water level rising, many of the bigger trees had died and their white trunks gave the area a ‘special wetland’ feel. Malaysia is blessed with very long coastline offering a variety of wetland habitat types both natural and man-made.
Around the coastal regions we find mudflats and mangrove forest, salt pans, prawn and fish ponds while further inland we find freshwater lakes and rice paddies which are ideal habitats for the specialist wetland birds.
Travelling to the Kuala Baram Wetlands along the old road — now seldom used to the old Kampung Masjid between the Baram River and the South China Sea — the MNS group saw oil palm cultivation on the left and large tracts of marshlands on the right.
Everything pointed to a good day ahead.
The old road used to be quite busy in the mornings when the Kuala Baram ferry was still operating.
Bruneians would drive down to Miri while Sarawakians in the opposite direction to Kuala Belait to work every day. Weekends saw even heavier traffic crossing the Baram River.
With the opening of the Asean Bridge and the larger trunk road, the old road seems irrelevant.
A few motorbikes passed the bus we were travelling in, and along the road, were parked a few motorbikes as their owners sat quietly fishing by the water’s edge.
A few squatter huts dotted the roadside just ahead of Kampung Masjid.
A nature lover with her binoculars.
Ticking the checklist
Musa passed a checklist for the participants to tick when they spotted the species of birds they were looking for. This is part of MNS’ census on the birds spotted.
The Miri Bird Watching group, for example, would report this on their blog: “Birds seen 24-05-2009Oriental Darter, Dollarbird, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Olive-back Sunbird, Pied Thriller, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Striated Grassbird, Collared Kingfisher, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Common Iora, Green Pigeons, Black-headed Munia and Dusky Munia.”
The group has a large following in Miri.
Rare waterbirds have been spotted besides other species in the wetlands, prompting more and more people to organise trips there over the past few months.
Interestingly, albeit a little sad,late last year, two men were caught red-handed poaching wild ducks by Musa and another MNS member named Phui who arrived at the wetlands as early as 7am.
The poachers had taken a Whistling Wandering Duck, one of the many protected wild game.
Musa said under the Sarawak Wildlife Ordinance 1998, stiff penalties would be meted to those caught trapping or killing birds, including Whistling Wandering Ducks and storks,with nets or any other means without permit.
Those found guilty could face a maximum penalty of three years’ jail plus a RM50,000 fine or both.
Besides Whistling Ducks, Oriental Darters, rare species such as Circling Kites and the Purple Herons have also been spotted.
According to Putra, an MNS member, who can recognise all the birds on the checklist, and even mimic their calls, sea eagles, blue feathered kingfisher, doves, white breasted woodswallow, moorhens, bee eaters, snipes, egrets and grassbirds can be spotted even with naked eyes.
Nature’s gift to Mirians
The Kuala Baram Wetlands is also extremely scenic. Professional photographers say it is one of nature’s gifts to Mirians and must be specially protected.
The flora and fauna of this marshland are interesting subjects of research for university students and scientists.
Guided tours, outreach activities for both visitors and locals alike will add more tourism value to Miri resort city.
Furthermore, a good walking track from the marshland to the shores of the South China Sea will come in very handy and ‘healthy’ for walkers and joggers.
Besides, if viewing platforms and picnic areas were to be set up,the wetlands could become even more attractive nature lovers.
By five in the evening, Musa and a few others decided the group should take a look at the Kuala Baram lighthouse.
Driving through Kampung Masjid was a treat to many of the first timers. And for those who wanted to see some wild birds in the wetlands, check this out this list — Grey Heron,Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret,Little Egret, Malaysian Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Chinese Egret, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Hawk Eagle.
A friend reminded the writer you don’t have to be a scientist to enjoy bird-watching. You can be a great casual birder. Just bring along a good hat and a bird book if you have one and you will have an easy day of bird-watching in the wetlands.
Alex and Veronica during the outing.
Fresh air and exercise
Two good friends — Veronica Wong and Lucy Siew — both agreed that besides being away from the hustle and bustle of the city, they also enjoyed some fresh air and a good exercise.
Catching sight of several different birds made their day.
Musa said one of the greatest joys of visiting the wetlands is that one may just find that rare bird resting in a quiet nest after flying thousands of miles from, say, northern Russia.
If you have a good pair of binoculars, you may see a tag with a number — meaning the bird has been tagged somewhere in this world and is recognisable by number. It is a bird ID which is so thrilling to record.
Musa said MNS and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation would jointly hold a Conservation Education Programme (CEP) sometime this year with the folk from Kampungs Masjid and Kampung Muhibbah. Other bird-watching and nature activities will announced from time to time.
One enthusiastic birder who is a learning therapist writes: “People who enjoy birding will connect and engage their left and right brain.
“The whole brain experience will activate their senses while also enhancing their appreciation and knowledge of birds.”
Thus, MNS is making the right move by encouraging students to learn more about Borneo’s native birds and migratory birds visiting our shores.
“If the sounds of birds are as ancient as the birds themselves, then their songs can be considered the ancestors of human music. The ancient Greek poets credit bird sounds and songs as the earliest poetry. Both poetry and music contain the essential elements of bird songs — rhythm, structure, timbre, pitch, melody, alliteration, duration, tempo, amplification, etc.” — Jon and Shani Friedman
The inaugural outing was definitely a success — many birds were spotted and many photos taken.
The group unanimously agreed to organise another outing — which received the ready nod from the smiling Musa.