| Bird-watching in Malaysia is an enjoyable and | | | | kilometre south of Kuala Selangor; the latter is only 65 |
| rewarding experience. Apart from the 460 resident | | | | km north of Kuala Lumpur. |
| bird species in the country, there are also more than | | | | Down south in Malacca State, Tanjung Tuan Forest |
| 50 migratory species that can be spotted from August | | | | Reserve offers a unique birding experience. From |
| to April each year. They sojourn in several areas in the | | | | March to April each year, raptors such as crested |
| country that have habitats suitable for roosting, nesting | | | | honey buzzard, black baza, Japanese sparrowhawk, |
| and feeding. One such popular stopover point is Kuala | | | | Chinese goshawk and grey-faced buzzard swoop |
| Gula Bird Sanctuary. | | | | and soar in the skies of this forest reserve. After |
| Covering 380 hectares, Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary | | | | having spent the Northern Hemisphere winter in |
| stretches over more than 20 kilometres of mudflats | | | | Indonesia, they return northward but make a stopover |
| along the coastline of Perak State from Pulau | | | | here as this is where the Straits of Malacca is |
| Kalumpang, near the Sungei Gula estuary, to Sungei | | | | narrowest. |
| Burung. The sanctuary is part of Matang Mangrove | | | | "The flight from Sumatra exhausts the birds," says |
| Forest Reserve which spans 40,151 hectares. Annually, | | | | Kamal Yusof, an amateur ornithologist, "so they come |
| Kuala Gula plays host to more than 200,000 avian | | | | in low, giving bird-watchers a chance to see them up |
| visitors from more than 50 species. Some of them | | | | close." He adds that over a four-day period last year, |
| come from as far Siberia, Mongolia and Russia. | | | | he and a group of friends managed to count more |
| At Kuala Gula, which has a visitor's centre run by the | | | | than 2,000 birds. |
| Wildlife and National Parks Department, bird-watchers | | | | The 93 hectares of Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve |
| can charter a four-passenger boat for four hours at | | | | covers a promontory that juts into the Straits of |
| RM100. Eight air-conditioned chalets are also available. | | | | Malacca, and includes its offshore areas. Walking trails |
| The number of visitors to Kuala Gula has increased so | | | | and vantage points provide excellent opportunities to |
| dramatically over the recent years that at Kuala Kurai, | | | | see the raptors, which include resident species such as |
| eight kilometres north, enterprising villagers have also | | | | brahminy kite and white-bellied sea eagle. Visitors may |
| become boat operators for bird-watching tours. | | | | also chance upon civets, dusky leaf monkeys, squirrels |
| As the boat takes you out of the muddy Sungei Gula | | | | and monitor lizards moving stealthily in the lowland |
| estuary, macaques and smooth otters are sighted in | | | | dipterocarp and Seraya forests. On a clear day, feast |
| the mangrove forests, while waders and shorebirds | | | | in the panoramic view of Pulau Rupat in the horizon, |
| such as night herons, egrets, greenshanks, marsh | | | | only 38 km away in Indonesia. |
| sandpipers, lesser adjutant storks and milky storks are | | | | Malaysia's oldest lighthouse - originally constructed by |
| seen in abundance on the mudflats. The heads of the | | | | the Portuguese -- also stands at Tanjung Tuan, and |
| birds bob up and down in search of crabs, small fish, | | | | was rebuilt by the British in 1821. In the waters off the |
| snails and crustaceans. To take in the spectacular | | | | promontory, the shipwrecks of ancient Portuguese and |
| sight of a copper sunset, ask the boatman to stop at | | | | Dutch ships recall the fierce battles fought between |
| the observation hide in the river at dusk. | | | | these colonialists for control of Malacca. According to |
| A side attraction at Kuala Gula is the fishing village of | | | | legend, Parameswara, the founder of Malacca, was |
| Bagan Gula which also cultivates cockles and prawns. | | | | buried at the summit of Tanjung Tuan, and that Hang |
| Horseshoe crabs and mantis prawns are the unusual | | | | Tuah, a legendary warrior, left his footprint in a rock |
| crustaceans often trawled up by the fishermen - try to | | | | somewhere in the reserve. To get to Tanjung Tuan, |
| see them when the fishermen return from sea and | | | | take a 15-kilometre drive south of Port Dickson along |
| are sorting the catch. | | | | the coastal road. |
| Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary is 38 kilometres from | | | | Paya Indah Wetlands Sanctuary is one of the most |
| Taiping via the Kamunting exit of the North-South | | | | easily accessible bird sanctuaries in the country. |
| Expressway. After exiting the highway, travel to Kg. | | | | Located only 50 km from Kuala Lumpur, it covers |
| Selinsing and proceed to Kuala Gula. To book | | | | more than 3,000 hectares of former peat swamp |
| accommodation; please contact the Wildlife and | | | | forests and includes several lakes with thriving lotus |
| National Parks Department at 05-7277207. | | | | plants and elephant grass. These habitats have proved |
| Apart from Kuala Gula, Kuala Selangor Nature Park in | | | | irresistible to species like purple heron, purple |
| Selangor State is another area that attracts large | | | | swamphen, cotton pygmy goose, egret, bulbul and |
| numbers of migratory birds. Having an artificial lake in | | | | whistling teal, which add colour and activity to the |
| its centre, the park covers 200 hectares of secondary | | | | environs. |
| forests and 95 hectares of mangrove forests. It is | | | | Bird-watching is only one of the attractions in Paya |
| managed by the Malaysian Nature Society, and there | | | | Indah - it is an ideal family vacation spot. Located at |
| are four marked trails leading to interesting places. | | | | the entrance to the park, Exploration Centre contains |
| More than 100,000 birds representing more than 30 | | | | an array of interactive exhibits on a range of subjects. |
| species come here annually. Some stop for just a few | | | | The Palm Garden has been planted with more than |
| days before continuing their journey to Australia and | | | | 1,000 palms from 83 species. Kayaking, canoeing and |
| Indonesia while others spend their entire winter | | | | horse-riding can also be enjoyed. Visitors wishing to |
| vacation in the lush wetlands habitats. | | | | see the most of the wetland in the shortest time can |
| From the Visitor's Centre, one can take a 550-metre | | | | rent mountain bikes. More than 30 chalets provide |
| hike down along the Egrets Trail leading to an elevated | | | | overnight retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. |
| bird hide at the edge of the lake. This is an excellent | | | | Getting to Paya Indah via the LDP Highway requires |
| base to spot the nests of milky storks. Langur Trail, | | | | going into Dengkil and then heading in the direction |
| which is the longest at 1100 metres, leads through | | | | towards Banting. On the other hand, if you are |
| strangling figs and coastal vegetation to a raised | | | | travelling on the ELITE Highway, you need to head in |
| boardwalk that reaches to the mudflats in the Straits | | | | the direction towards Dengkil. |
| of Malacca. During your 80-minute tramp through this | | | | In the north of West Malaysia, Timah Tasoh Lake is |
| trail, you will frequently encounter squirrels, silver-leafed | | | | also home to winged guests. Covering 13 sq. |
| monkeys and long-tailed macaques in the secondary | | | | kilometres, Timah Tasoh Lake lies 15 kilometres from |
| forest. Further ahead, if you are armed with lots of | | | | Kangar, the capital of Perlis State. The lake is the first |
| patience, silence and binoculars, you can spot plovers, | | | | fresh-water body that migratory birds come upon in |
| bee-eaters, herons and kingfishers searching for | | | | Peninsular Malaysia. The WWF Malaysia and |
| mollusks, worms and snails in mangrove habitat. There | | | | Malaysian Nature Society have recorded more than |
| are also the Macaque and Eagle Trails that are 436 | | | | 140 species of birds that are either temporary or |
| and 988 metres respectively. | | | | permanent residents. Among the rare species |
| Modest chalets are found at the Visitor's Centre (tel: | | | | observed are the black-winged stilt and narcissus |
| 03-8892294). Overlooking the park are the ancient | | | | flycatcher. Easily identified by its black bill and red legs, |
| cannons of Altingsburg Fort, perched atop Bukit | | | | the black-winged stilt prefers deeper waters. The |
| Melawati (Melawati Hill). Inside the fort, an ancient | | | | Nakawan Range forms a majestic backdrop the lake. |
| execution block casts an eerie silence that is | | | | The journey to Malaysia by thousands of migratory |
| punctuated by the hooting and chatter of silver-leaf | | | | birds annually is made without fanfare but for those in |
| monkeys and long-tailed macaques in the surrounding | | | | the know, the migratory season offers unlimited birding |
| tall trees. Kuala Selangor Nature Park is situated one | | | | opportunities. |