MNS Kuching Branch Bird Group Bird Talk

The Malaysian Nature Society KBBG is pleased to have Dr. Pilai Poonswad to give a talk on the research and conservation work on hornbills. The state bird of Sarawak is a hornbill. It is one of the most magnificent bird groups in Asian tropical forests. Their presence and status reflect the health of the forest ecosystems. The population of hornbills has been declining in many parts of the world, including Sarawak.  Efforts have been made to increase their population. 

In Thailand, the hornbill research and conservation works started about twenty years ago by the Thailand Hornbill Project (THP), based at the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, and supported by Hornbill Research Foundation (HRF) .  Measures such as "Adopt a hornbill’s nest" were set up to help stop the loss of forest area and to stop poaching and illegal log ging - the factors affecting hornbill survival.  An intensive campaign was started in 1994. The program is now considered successful. 
 Dr. Pilai Poonswad, who leads this conservation effort, will share with us 20 years of her experience on hornbill research and conservation and the methods and stories about the breeding success of hornbills in Thailand. 
The talk will be in the evening at Sama Jaya Nature Park on the 6 May at 7.30pm.
Everyone is welcome and it is FREE of charge.
Love life - Love Nature
Regards
Sue Teal
Secretary KBBG

Profile of speaker

Dr. Pilai Poonswad has a M.Sc. in Microbiology from Mahidol University and a Ph.D. in Avian Ecology from Osaka City University, Japan. Her field of expertise is Avian Parasitology and Avian Biology and Ecology. She is the representa­tive of Thailand in the International Ornithological Committee, a founder and committee member of Hornbill Research Foundation and elected as Honorary Fellow of American Ornithologists’ Union. She is currently Professor of Biology at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. She has received numerous honours and awards for her scientific work and contribution to conservation.

The venue Sama Jaya Nature Reserve on Thursday 6 May 2010 at 7.30pm.

Entry to the talk is FREE.

For further information and registration, please contact Susan Teal at 012 855 1799  

or Anthony Wong at 013-8333163 or antwong@sareaga.com.