The Sarawak Nature Festival and the Sarawak Bird Race 2012
By Ann Armstrong
The Kuching Branch of the Malaysian Nature Society and Borneo Highlands Resort are organizing the two-day Sarawak Nature Festival 2012 at the resort on Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30.
The featured item of this festival is the Sarawak Bird Race 2012 which will be flagged off at 2.00pm from the Borneo Highlands Resort Clubhouse. The race will come to a close 22 hours later on Sunday at 12noon.
The bird race is the main event of the Sarawak Nature Festival 2012, but a number of exciting nature-based, family-orientated activities are planned for the two-day event. On Saturday afternoon visitors can choose to join guided nature walks or attend photography workshops; in the evening star gazing and weather permitting a night walk. On Sunday they can learn to make hand cream from natural ingredients, join guided walks and attend more workshops. Plus there are activities aimed at the junior members.
The Resort Manager of the Borneo Highlands Resort, Zakaria Ismail is excited about this event as it should increase awareness about nature and the importance of birds. Borneo Highlands Resort is dedicated to the conservation of the nature and environment.
The Penrissen Highlands was recognized as an Important Bird Area in 2010 as it hosts several endemic and endangered species. Sightings of eight of the endemic Bornean species have been documented at the Borneo Highlands Resort include exciting species such Bornean Barbet ('Megalaima exima'), Blue-banded Pitta ('Pitta arquata') as well endangered trophy species such as the Black Hornbill ('Anthracoceros albirostris').
The Penrissen Highlands is one of the 55 Important Bird Areas in Malaysia. The recognition of these areas have many benefits beyond birds, however, bird populations, including species diversity and numbers, are an indicator of an area's ecological health. Society benefits as these wild or semi-wild areas can act rich ecological niches in the species poor environments created by man. Plus they can play important roles in the natural cycles, for example water, carbon and nitrogen.
The organizing Chairman from the Malaysian Nature Society, Vincent Wong believes 'Understanding and appreciating Nature is understanding and appreciating ourselves. Without nature we all wither. Save them to save ourselves and our children.' The Sarawak Nature Festival and Bird Race provide a venue to develop this appreciation. Furthermore that our, despite our ability to moderate microenvironments of homes and other buildings, is dependant on nature and we should not forget this.
The students at Sarawak campus Swinburne University got first hand experience in creating environmental awareness when they worked through the extend process of creating the designs for the event and participating in one of the activity, the natural hand cream demonstration. The Sarawak Nature Festival is a community affair.
Others share his passion. John Ariffin a well-known Singapore based nature photographer, educator and writer will be joining the event and facilitating a workshop on nature photography. He travels across Asia to document wildlife and cultures of Asia in search of a perfect moment to freeze in time.
On Saturday, September 22 at 2pm at the Sarawak Tourism Complex, which is located on Jalan Tun Abg Hj Openg, Old Court House, an introduction to The Sarawak Nature Festival and the Sarawak Bird Race 2012 is being organized. Visitors to this introduction will have the opportunity to learn more about birds and the festival.
The Sarawak Nature Festival and the Sarawak Bird Race 2012 is sure to be fun and educational for all members of the family. For further information go to the website at birdrace2012.borneohighlands.com.my or Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/sarawakbirdrace. Special rates at the Borneo Highlands Resort are available for participants, but book early.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bird race on Sept 29 and 30 promises to be fun (Source: The Star)
KUCHING: Dust off those binoculars because the annual Sarawak Bird Race 2012 is about to take off.
Part of the Sarawak Nature Festival 2012, the highly anticipated bird rac...e promises nature lovers and bird watchers plenty of nature themed activities and fun.
Jointly organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) together with Borneo Highlands Resort (BHR), the event aims to bring people closer to their natural surroundings besides promoting bird watching in the state.
First held in October 2008, the bird race consists of teams of two competing against each other in locating, identifying and recording as many species of birds as they can within a stipulated amount of time.
“This is a great chance for people to break out of the monotony of their daily lives, unwind and enjoy nature while bird watching,” said deputy state secretary Datuk Ose Murang.
“I remember joining the first ever bird race more than four years ago, where I first saw the blue-banded Pita, a curious little bird with vividly coloured feathers. It goes to show the many species of birds we have in Sarawak alone. Some even perched in our backyards without us knowing,” he said.
Members of MNS have been going up to Borneo Highlands to conduct bird surveys since the late 1990s, recording some 120 species in the past. The bird race has since added new species to that list, totalling over 200 species last year.
Come Sept 29, the bird race will return for the fifth year running with the tagline “Because Birds are Important”.
The race will take place on Sept 29 and 30 at Borneo Highlands Resort.
There will also be many interesting side events at the resort for all to enjoy, such as nature talks, day and night nature walks, junior nature activities, mini bird race for the children and an exhibition on bird photography.
Those interested in finding out more can visit http://www.birdrace2012.borneohighlands.com.my/ or www.facebook.com/sarawakbirdrace.
KUCHING: Dust off those binoculars because the annual Sarawak Bird Race 2012 is about to take off.
Part of the Sarawak Nature Festival 2012, the highly anticipated bird rac...e promises nature lovers and bird watchers plenty of nature themed activities and fun.
Jointly organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) together with Borneo Highlands Resort (BHR), the event aims to bring people closer to their natural surroundings besides promoting bird watching in the state.
First held in October 2008, the bird race consists of teams of two competing against each other in locating, identifying and recording as many species of birds as they can within a stipulated amount of time.
“This is a great chance for people to break out of the monotony of their daily lives, unwind and enjoy nature while bird watching,” said deputy state secretary Datuk Ose Murang.
“I remember joining the first ever bird race more than four years ago, where I first saw the blue-banded Pita, a curious little bird with vividly coloured feathers. It goes to show the many species of birds we have in Sarawak alone. Some even perched in our backyards without us knowing,” he said.
Members of MNS have been going up to Borneo Highlands to conduct bird surveys since the late 1990s, recording some 120 species in the past. The bird race has since added new species to that list, totalling over 200 species last year.
Come Sept 29, the bird race will return for the fifth year running with the tagline “Because Birds are Important”.
The race will take place on Sept 29 and 30 at Borneo Highlands Resort.
There will also be many interesting side events at the resort for all to enjoy, such as nature talks, day and night nature walks, junior nature activities, mini bird race for the children and an exhibition on bird photography.
Those interested in finding out more can visit http://www.birdrace2012.borneohighlands.com.my/ or www.facebook.com/sarawakbirdrace.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Talk on Orangutans of Sarawak by Sundai Silang
Dear Friends of SBC
We will be holding a talk on Orangutans of Sarawak by Sundai Silang (Sarawak Forestry Corporation).
Details of the talk are:
Date: 28 Sept 2012, Friday
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Sarawak Biodiversity Centre
We will be holding a talk on Orangutans of Sarawak by Sundai Silang (Sarawak Forestry Corporation).
Details of the talk are:
Date: 28 Sept 2012, Friday
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Sarawak Biodiversity Centre
We would love to have you join us during this talk where Sundai will present interesting orangutan facts, including how they live, their behaviour, biology, distribution and conservation efforts.
Please do let us know if you are able to make it for the talk by emailing to biosar@sbc.org.my or call 082-610610
And as always, do bring colleagues, friends & family.
Hope to see you then!
Regards
Asha
Please do let us know if you are able to make it for the talk by emailing to biosar@sbc.org.my or call 082-610610
And as always, do bring colleagues, friends & family.
Hope to see you then!
Regards
Asha
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Nature Festival 2012
Sarawak Nature Festival 2012 featuring the Sarawak Bird Race 2012 will be held on the 29th September 2012 - 30th September 2012.
http://www.birdrace2012.borneohighlands.com.my/birdrace2012/sbr2012info.pdf
Ring Benard at the BH office 082577930 (hp 0168860139) to enter your team - let all your friends know 29-30 September 2012 it starts at 2pm Saturday and finishes 12 noon on Sunday. Good Luck to you all!
Please download the entry form for bird race and also the entry form for the other activities at the following link. Special exclusive rate given to participants only. =)
http://www.birdrace2012.borneohighlands.com.my/downloads/
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