WMBD 2009 Events in Miri and Similajau National Park

12 May 2009

This year the central theme of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is “BARRIERS TO MIGRATION”, highlighting the threat posed by man-made obstacles to birds during their annual migration.  For 2009, WMBD aims to raise awareness on man-made barriers to migration by encouraging national authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals around the world to organize events and awareness-raising programs which help draw attention to the many man-made obstacles migratory birds face during their migration and provide a global platform for people and dedicated organizations to take action for the conservation of migratory birds.

MNS Miri celebrated WMBD 2008 last year, first in Miri and Sarawak and did so again this year. We held talks, slideshows by invited guests for the general public and schools in Miri and surrounding areas at several venues. We organised birdwatching excursions to our favorite birding spots. Two locations in Sarawak\'s Northern Division were identified as venues for our WMBD celebration, namely Miri and Similajau National Park. The first such event to be held in Similajau. Denis Degullacion from Borneo Bird Club was invited to give talks to schoolchildren and their teachers at the national park.

Birdwatching excursions catering to MNS members and the public were organised to several interesting locations in Miri with the purpose of introducing WMBD, waterbirds and birds in general. Issues suurounding “Barriers to Migration” were also discussed during the events. Reception from the public was rather lukewarm this year due to another big do, Miri Jazz Festival which fell on the same weekend. Nonetheless, several avid birders and closet-jazz fans turned up and braved our early morning forays into the peatswamps for unparalleled views of wild ducks and darters. Almost sixty wild ducks and six darters sighted!

The Miri WMBD culminated with a Drawing-Coloring Contest  as well as a Talk and Slideshow held at Pustaka Miri on Saturday, 16th May 2009. Forty students participated in the drawing contest which end with 3 top prize winners. 1st and 2nd price winning pictures both depicted Sarawak\'s emblematic hornbills. The third prize was a beautiful picture of a difficult to see Blue-eared Kingfisher. Congratulations to our young artists. Malek Adenan was on hand to judge the day\'s entries.

The Similajau WMBD event can be classed as a roaring success even if it was the first such event held there! Almost eigthy children, ten teachers from two schools, staff and family members of Similajau Park and SFC-Bintulu Regional Office, volunteers from Grand Perfect, MNS Miri made the weekend a truly enjoyable and educational weekend for all involved. Led by Denis Degullacion of Borneo Bird Club, both participants and crew were introduced to some very interesting birds of Similajau National Park. The Black Hornbill, typically seen literally walking around the park on other days were not seen during this particular weekend however. Close cooperation with Similajau National Park has enabled MNS Miri to extend WMBD 2009 to the park for the first time. The program catered to schoolchildren surrounding the park, park staff as well as their family.

Special thanks go to all volunteers and participants from SFC-Bintulu Regional Office, Similajau National Park, Grand Perfect and MNS Miri for their tireless effort and dedication. A collossal thank you goes to Denis for sacrificing his valuable long weekend to talk birds, share his passion and slides and educate the children and participants in general about this wonderful activity.

Till WMBD 2010!

For pictures go to:

http://mnsmiri.blogspot.com/2009/05/birds-from-wmbd-2009-excursions.html