Raptor watch thrill
Raptor watch thrill
Bird enthusiasts gather for annual show
By Tan Choe Choe
NST, 5 Mar 2006
TANJUNG TUAN, Sat. — Local and foreign bird enthusiasts and nature lovers arrived in droves at the Ilham Resort here today, to witness the annual migration of thousands of birds of prey.
“This is a phenomenal experienceâ€, said Singaporean Leslie Fung, 46.
Fung said Tanjung Tuan has always been a special crossover point for migratory raptors and it was a wonderful experience.
Students Zuleikha Hasnan and Diana Sabrina Redzuan Lim, both 15, were overwhelmed by the spectacular sight of the raptors.
“They were whirling in the air as if in a sort of dance before they flew away. It was awesomeâ€, said Diana.
The two students from SMK Seksyen Five, Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumur, were
here with their teachers to take part in their activities lined up by the Malaysian Nature Society for school children.
“We are really glad we cameâ€, said Zuleikha. “There’s the sunny beach, the fantastic forest reserve guided trails, the games and the bird-watching — so much to doâ€.
Located beside the Tanjung Tuan Forest, Ilham esort has been known worldwide as “the place to be†for watching migratory raptors that fly thousands of kilometers annually to Malaysia and Indonesia to escape the harsh winters of their homes in China, Mongolia and Siberia.
“They fly down the Asian continental mainland and cross over to Indonesia from Tanjung Tuan, as it is the closest route to Sumatraâ€, said Malaysian Nature Society public relations executive, Jaya Radha Veerasamy.
Birds of prey are said to be direct descendants of the velociraptors, and those that use Tanjung Tuan as the crossover point include the Crested Honey Buzzards, Chinese Goshawks, Grey-Faced Buzzards, Japanese Sparrowhawk and Black Bazas.
“Tanjung Tuan is an important land mass for raptors as it generates thermals, or rising columns of hot air, which the large raptors glide on, otherwise they would have to flap their wings over an exhausting distance of thousands of kilometers before they can reach homeâ€, said Jaya.