MNS Birding trip to Fairy Cave area

MNS Birding Trip to Fairy Cave Area

DATE : 4 September (Sunday)

TIME : 7:00am – 10.00am

WHERE TO MEET : At entrance of Fairy Cave at 7.00am. Carpool by arrangement – should leave Kuching at 6:15am

INTRODUCTION

The venue is Fairy Cave Nature Reserve, located about 10 minutes drive from Bau town centre. The Bau limestone hill region has been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBAs).
Our leaders will be : Yeo Siew Teck and Ch’ien C Lee.

This trip is an opportunity to experience the biodiversity of the Bau Limestone area, comprising a series of low limestone hills, which are covered by mixed dipterocarp forests and also where many fresh water streams run through. The ecosystem includes impressive cave systems within limestone outcrops.
A study by Sim and Kong (2004) reveal the Bau Limestone Area holds at least 129 species of birds from 40 families, eighteen of which are globally-threatened and 34 listed as totally protected and protected species. Some of the more interesting species recorded in the area include Oriental Darter, Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Red-crowned and Red-throated Barbets, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Crested Jay, the globally-threatened Straw-headed Bulbul, and many others. One unusual bird occasionally sighted at Fairy Cave is the Bornean Whistling-thrush. This is an endemic species which is normally only found in the higher mountains of northern Borneo, but for some reason occurs here at sea-level.


To learn more about the Area, read the articles in The Sarawak Museum Journal Vol. LIX, No. 80 (New Series); Special Issue No. 6: 235-: Sarawak Bau Limestone Biodiversity (eds H.S. Yong, F.S.P. Ng and E.E.L. Yen).

HOW TO GET THERE
Bau is located 35 Kilometers from Kuching. It can be reached by two routes. Either using the old Bau - Kuching Road via Kota Sentosa (7 mile Penrissen Road) or the Kuching – Bau- Lundu Road ( part of the Borneo Hwy) via Batu Kawa.

WHAT TO BRING
Please bring along your camera, binoculars, bird guides, pocket-size note pad, hat, sun block, umbrella, insert repellent. A torch if looking inside caves. Please remember to wear dull-coloured clothes.

FEES
Members : FREE
Non Members: RM5/-
Students : Free
Foreigners: RM20 donation to bird group for conservation


REGISTRATION/INFORMATION
For registration please contact Susan Teal at 012-8874401 or sueteal2006@gmail.com.
For more information please contact Yeo Siew Teck on 019-887 6860 or Anthony Wong on 013-833 3163