Wan Junaidi (centre) at the unveiling of the Buntal Bay Flyway Network monument at Buntal Esplanade Kuching with his wife Datin Sri Feona, Dr Abdul Rahman (second right), Dr Azimuddin (left), Sapuan (third left) and Oswald (fourth left). — Photo by Mohd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Buntal Bay Flyway Network, site for East Asian-Australasian Flywork Network (EAAFN) which opened in 2013, has proven its worth as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is Malaysia’s first migratory bird watch site.
Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said the flyway network area was a phenomenally long stopover site for birds migrating from the northern hemisphere before winter sets in.
“These birds will fly south in search of warmer habitats to escape the long winter months in the north. Along its migratory route, it stops at various places around the world,” he said before unveiling Buntal Bay Flyway Network Site Monument at Buntal Esplanade Kuching here yesterday.
“It’s important to implement a flyway network site for migratory birds for the whole of Australasia, and Malaysia had been approved by the Federal Cabinet to be a member of the East Asian-Australasian Flywork Network (EAAFN),” Abdul Rahman said.
Intensive research had been done and implementation of migratory bird watching sites gave safe passage to migratory birds.
He was glad the site in Sarawak is in the parliamentary constituency of Santubong and state constituency of Pantai Damai.
Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP, said the migratory bird watch site stretched along the coastal area from Buntal and Bako up to Sadong Jaya.
He believed the area had the potential to become another tourist attraction.
“It should be on the Malaysia and Sarawak tourism calendar to tell people there is a migratory bird watch site in Malaysia.”
There are about 30,000 species of migratory birds passing through this stop.
“Bird watching is popular among foreigners and locals should make these visitors feel welcome,” he said.
Wan Junaidi said tourism players could tell the world about the existence of the migratory bird watching site at Buntal, Bako Bay and Sadong.
“Short stopovers by migratory birds is good for the eco-system as these birds eats crabs, worms, termites and insects that are abundant,” he said.
“To boost the local economy, villagers in the area could make a living from getting people to do bird watching with the help of guidelines from the Forest Department, such as not disturbing the birds while they are eating and resting.”
The unveiling of the monument was also witnessed by Wan Junaidi’s wife Datin Sri Feona Wan Junaidi, Deputy Secretary General of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Dr Azimuddin Bahari, Sarawak Forest Department director and wildlife controller Sapuan Ahmad and Sarawak Forestry Corporation Deputy General Oswald Braken Tisen.