Ecology Of Birds

Bird Ringing

Bird ringing programmes had been carried out by individual researchers and institutions of higher learning, in collaboration with the Department, mainly in Gunung Gading National Park, Matang Wildlife Centre & Kubah National Park and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. Birds which were netted were banded with Sarawak Forest Department rings and released. A total of almost 30 species were inventoried in these areas, and many others were added to the list through visual observations and vocalisation. They include tailorbirds, sunbirds, kingfishers, flycatchers, bulbuls & babblers. Though the number of species caught in these preliminary surveys is low, interesting birds such as the mugimaki flycatcher and the Bornean endemic, the dusky munia caught proves that totally protected areas not only served as a refuge for resident birds but also for migrants species.

Ringing was also conducted in disturbed areas set aside for recreation viz Stapok Forest Reserve, Bukit Lima Nature Reserve & Stutong Forest Park. The results were amazing, species of migrants were also caught; migrant cuckoo, tiger shrike, blue throated bee eater, even Diard's trogons!! It indicates that healthy patches of forest though small in acreage, could serve as a refuge for many species of birds. Nocturnal species; the common scops owl & Malaysian eared nightjar were noted. Ringing carried out in the proposed Maludam National Park, a peatswamp area yielded a total of 32 bird species including two species of owls.

Conservation of cave swiflets

Management of cave swiftlets was concentrated at Niah caves, mainly due to the magnitude of swiftlet populations there. Three species of swiflets inhabit these caves namely, the mostly nest swiftlet, white bellied swiftlet & black swiftlet, the only edible nest producer. Monitoring of population levels and nest harvest yields were carried out during each harvest season. Apart from that, dialogues with cave owners and collectors were carried out.

In the early days, management of cave swiflets came under the jurisdiction of Sarawak Museum but has been transferred to Sarawak Forest Department since 1997. Licences are issued to collectors in other localities which is important for black nest production, eg. in Ulu Kakus, Serian and also to collectors in Baram, an area renowned for white nest production. The Department also issues licences for trade, import and export in this valuable commodity.

Conservation of migratory birds

Monitoring of migratory bird's population wintering on the coasts of Pulau Bruit has been carried out during the migratory season. The Birds were identified to species level whenever possible and counted for each group. Today, Pulau Bruit is in its final stage of constitution as a national park.

Another bird sanctuary which has been set aside for the shorebirds is the Pulau Tukong Ara-Banun Sanctuary. It is a rocky islet located offshore Santubong Bay, inhabited by a colony of Birdled Terns & Black Naped Terns. Monitoring of their breeding season and reproductive success of these birds has been carried out.

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