Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch: Enthusiasts all geared up for Sarawak Bird Race 2015 on Nov 1

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Enthusiasts all geared up for Sarawak Bird Race 2015 on Nov 1

A file photo of an olive-backed woodpecker.

KUCHING: The Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) and the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak will be organising the Sarawak Bird Race 2015 on Nov 1 at the Borneo Highlands Resort (BHR).

The Sarawak Bird Race is a fun competition between teams of two to observe, identify and record as many species of birds as possible within a specified time frame.

Its vice chairperson Rose Au said that the race should get individuals from the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association and Sarawak Forestry Corporation Park Guides excited about birding.

“It also provides an opportunity for all bird enthusiasts to improve their bird identification skills,” she said in a press release yesterday.

BHR is in the Penrissen Highlands, which was declared an Important Bird Area in 2010 since it hosts several endemic and endangered species. It is part of the global network created by Birdlife International.

According to the society’s chairman Vincent Wong, over 200 species have been recorded at the resort located at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.

Katherine Pearce, an MNS member, said that the border was also a good place to see the iconic hornbills. The data collected from the Bird Race will be incorporated into a database for bird populations.

Au hopes that the Beginners Birding Workshop, which will be held at BHR a day before the race from Oct 29 to 31, will lead to responsible guiding of birds, thus resulting in the protection of birds and their habitats by the participating tourist guides.

For more information or to join the race, contact MNS Kuching Branch at mnskuching@gmail.com or call Rose Au at 016-8909468 or Eddy Wong 014-3951415.