Oriental
Bird Club
Bulletin 20 • December 1994
The
Oriental Bird Club
aims to:
■ encourage an interest
in the birds of the
Oriental region and their
conservation.
■ liaise with and
promote the work of
existing regional
societies.
■ collate and publish
material on Oriental
birds.
Two bulletins and a journal,
Forktail, are published annually
Corporate Sponsors of OBC
The partnership that works
for bird conservation in Asia.
Bird and Wildlife Bookshop
Birdquest
Birdwatch
Cygnus Wildlife Holidays
In Focus
Leica Camera
Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board
Murphy's Wildlife
Naturetrek
Nikon UK
Omitholidays
Sunbird
Wildwings
OBC Council
Richard Bosanquet (Membership Database); Steve Broyd (Sales
Officer); Mike Crosby; Nona Finch; Daryl Gardner (Secretary);
Nick Gardner (Promotions Officer); Eng-Li Green (Publicity
Officer); Graeme Green (UK Meetings Officer); Melanie Heath
(Conservation Officer); Carol Inskipp; Tim Inskipp ( Forktail Editor /
Checklist Co-ordinator); Frank Lambert; Nigel Lindsey; Adrian
Long (Bulletin Editor); Peter Morris; Adrian Pitches; Colin Poole;
Nick Pope (Membership Administration); Nigel Redman
(Chairman); Graeme Spinks (Treasurer); Simon Stirrup; Dave
Weaver (International Meetings Officer).
OBC Representatives
Alan McBride and Richard Noske (Australia); Anisuzzaman Khan
(Bangladesh); Philip Verbelen (Belgium); Prof. Yao-Kuang Tan
(China); Dr Jiri Mlfkovsky (Czech Republic); Jesper Madsen and
Anders Prieme (Denmark); Hannu Jannes (Finland); Roland Eve
(France); Dr W. Thiede (Germany); Mike Chalmers and David
Melville (Hong Kong); Asad Rahmani and Toby Sinclair (India);
Derek Holmes and Bas van Balen (Indonesia); Chris Murphy
(Ireland); Carlo Violani (Italy); Akira Hibi (Japan); Jin-Young Park
(Korea); Dennis Yong and Mike Chong (Malaysia); RajenDra
Suwal (Nepal); Frank Rozendaal and Jelle Scharringa
(Netherlands); Oystein Storkersen (Norway); Ashiq Ahmad Khan
(Pakistan); Prof. Bias R. Tabaranza, Jr. (Philippines); Lim Kim Seng
(Singapore); Dr Sareth Kotagama and Upali Ekanayake (Sri Lanka);
Per Alstrom (Sweden); Dr Beat Wartmann (Switzerland); Philip
Round and Uthai Treesucon (Thailand); Dr Robert Kennedy (USA);
Jonathan Eames and Dr Nguyen Cu (Vietnam).
OBC Editorial Committee
Mike Crosby, Guy Dutson, Rob Innes, Tim Inskipp ( Forktail Editor),
Frank Lambert (Assistant Forktail Editor), Adrian Long (Bulletin
Editor), Colin Poole, Michael Rank, Nigel Redman, Craig Robson,
Helen Taylor.
Membership of OBC
Membership of the Club is open to all and costs £12 per annum (£8
reduced rate for nationals living in Oriental countries), £16 Family,
£36 Corporate Members, £20 Sponsoring Member (supporting the
Honorary Membership Scheme), and £20 for organisations,
libraries and universities. Special arrangements for payment exist
in USA, Thailand and India. To join or for further details please
contact the Membership Secretary, OBC, c/o The Lodge, Sandy,
Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K.
Cover illustration:
Papaya Breakfast
A painting of Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis, Black-naped Oriole
Oriolus chinensis and Asian Glossy
Starlings Aplonis panayensis feeding at a
papaya tree by Dr Neoh Chin Boon.
Rubythroat Publications
6 Corinthian Close,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG22 4TN
The Oriental Bird Club is a Registered
Charity No: 297242
ISSN 0268-9634
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
1
2 Guest Editorial
4 Club News
8 Conservation Fund
15 Around the Orient
24 Little-known Oriental Bird
29 FEATURE
33 FEATURE
35 Birdwatching Areas
39 ClubWatch
41 Recently Published
44 FEATURE
47 FEATURE
49 To the Editor
52 Stray Feathers
54 Free Press
55 From the Field
Contents
David Wells
1994 Tenth Anniversary AGM; Joint OBC/Yorkshire Birding
Meeting; Mega prize Draw 1994; OBC Information Service; A
New T-shirt for Autumn 1994; OBC Member Donates £1,000;
OBC Welcomes Natural History Book Service; International
Meetings; Special Malaysia Issue Bulletin; Two More Corporate
Sponsors; More Business Supporters; OBC Manchester
Meeting; Another Successful Blakeney Meeting; New OBC
Display Stand; India Special Bulletin for 1995; Join OBC
Editorial Committee!; Burt Monroe; Helping OBC
Major Awards for 1994; Knobbed Hornbill in Sulawesi; Java
Hill Forests; Gunung Halimun; Shifting Cultivation on Bird
Communities; Swamp Francolin; Bang Khram Forest Reserve;
Conservation Fund in Action
Compiled by Colin Poole
Kinabalu Friendly Warbler Bradypterus accentor
Simon Harrap
Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata in Peninsular Malaysia
Mike Chong
Kuala Selangor National Park - Rich and Accessible
Tony Sebastian
Panti Forest Reserve, Johor, Malaysia
Lim Kim Seng
Malaysian Nature Society
A Birdwatcher's Guide to Malaysia; Manual to the
Conservation of Asian Hornbills; Wild Malaysia; An audio
Guide to the Birds of South India
Layang-Layang - Malaysia's largest seabird colony
Colin Poole
Wedge-tailed Pigeon Treron sphenura in Malaysia
Allen Jeyarajasingam
Some comments on the 'revival' of Sultanpur Lake - A. J.
Gaston; More Notes on Rabor's Wren-Babbler Napothera rabori
- Simon Harrap and Ken Mitchell
Birdwatching in the Philippines; Audio Guide to the Birds of
South India; Asian Waterfowl Census; AOU/OBC Symposium;
Philippine Birds and South Pacific Birds on Special Offer;
Welcome Return for DBTRS; Request for Shrike Photographs;
Hill Myna Information Needed; India Special Bulletin 1995;
Phootographs of Indonesian Birds
Compiled by Guy Dutson
Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos,
Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam
62 Advertisements
2
Guest Editorial
We are most pleased that David Wells agreed to write the guest editorial for this Special Malaysia
Issue of the bulletin. David has been carrying out long-term studies on the country's avifauna for
nearly 30 years and soon his great knowledge will be published in a handbook for the region's birds.
David was OBC's first representative for Malaysia and we would like to thank him warmly for all
the support he has given the Club in its first decade.
Malaysia is a country that is split in two parts
with 600 km of sea separating the two halves.
However, the break between Borneo and the
Malay Peninsula is geologically modern though
formerly a continuous continental plain. Its
parallel-running mountain systems have been the
only really durable habitat islands, now old and
weathered except for the giant, still rising plug of
Kinabalu. The latter's summit, once cold enough
to have supported a glacier, is a refuge for
trapped, cool-climate life forms and the only spot
in Malaysia above the tree-line.
Below that line, the almost universal climax
cover is evergreen tropical forest, contributing
over 60% of the Malaysia/Singapore bird species
list. The two mountain archipelagos offer
birdwatchers separate field challenges. In bird
terms, Malayan forest above about 900 m is an
arm of Indochina, its specialists 80% northern
versus only 20% Sunda endemic. A not-much-
smaller Bornean mountain fauna inverts these
figures, with enough local endemics to qualify as
Malaysia's only Endemic Bird Area (EBA)
community in BirdLife International's global
analysis of restricted-range bird distributions.
Instead of high numbers of restricted-range
species the lowland forest bird communities are
more speciose, but note that 80% of the
community's birds are endemic to the Sunda
region. Malaysia's list, at 717 species, is near half
that of the many times bigger, biogeographically
much more complex Indonesia.
These are basic statistics, but how good are the
facts? In forest, post-gun era fieldwork has added
only a few species to over fifty years of effort by
museum collectors, mostly through the coming of
mist-nets and portable sound recorders.
Introduced in the fifties and sixties, the largest
early effect of these tools was to revolutionise the
status of many forest birds, and in this, Malaysia
is ahead of Indonesia in that virtually every
species of the collecting era has been re-found in
the field by birdwatchers. It would be incorrect,
however, to assume from this that the ground has
been thoroughly covered. Sampling has always
been spotty and while some recent expeditions
(on most of which OBC members have been
active) have plugged gaps there still are large
terrain features in both parts of Malaysia that
have never been visited by an ornithologist,
though accessibility so often means loggers have
got there first.
Events in open country have been quite
different, in that only a few of the last 30 years has
passed without one to several species being
added to the Malaysian list. Most have been extra
migrants, but include some breeding range
expansions, unassisted, and also by introduction
via the wildlife trade. This is a fluid situation in
which exciting changes have occurred fast, but it
is clear that rate of reporting has also varied with
observer effort, which accounts for the undue
number of 'firsts' from Singapore!
Development over this period has been two¬
pronged, through universities and local research
institutions and via the large expansion of amateur
activity, heavily expatriate through the 1960s, but
increasingly resident since. This has been
organised mainly via branches of the Malaysian
Nature Society, which started a consolidated
Malayan Bird Report in 1962 and the journals
Singapore Avifauna and Enggang in the 1980s.
A first summary of Malaysian ornithology
appeared in the mid-seventies and another is
being written up now, highlighting gaps and
trends, and suggesting ways forward that apply
area-wide. Briefly, interest in forest bird
communities continues (with serious findings for
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
3
conservation policy) and, in all habitats, more
species and groups have received special
treatment. Pheasants, bee-eaters, swifts (and their
ecto-parasites), owls, frugivorous pigeons, hawks
and starlings are among those featured, and
through Interwader and now the Asian Wetland
Bureau (AWB) our knowledge of shorebird
movements has advanced greatly.
These projects have all been organised by
institutionally supported students and full-time
professionals. The dominant contribution of
amateurs and touring visitors has been inventory
work, which still remains a major need. Inevitably,
it has double value if it can be channelled to sites
of special scientific and/or conservation need,
which more could undoubtedly be done locally to
identify and publicise. Still the biggest deficiency
however, offering greatest scope for those able to
work only opportunistically, is in natural history
ob-servations. Much more has been learned about
vocalisations, and nest records have accrued
slowly, but regular collection of other classes of
information (e.g. on foraging behaviour, food,
social interactions, etc.) would be transforming.
For locals, it could well begin in gardens where,
happily, there are still plenty of birds, most as
poorly known biologically as those of wild
habitats.
How safe are Malaysian birds? This year. West
Indonesian forests burned again on a grand scale.
Along the west coast plain of the Peninsula we
have not had a sunny day now for three months,
blanketed by smoke from Sumatra. In past El
Nino years fires have entered Sabah forests, but
with a still manageably small rural population
this has not become a widespread Malaysian
problem. Rather, the problem in Malaysia/
Singapore is management of wealth, the single-
minded pursuit of which is hitting forest
resources unacceptably hard and frighteningly
fast. In recent years, Sarawak has designated a
good system of reserves, but few real claims can
yet be made for the rest of the country, with
opportunities of connecting decision-making to
scientifically-based conservation needs dis¬
appearing especially fast in the Peninsula.
Nationwide, it would be realistic to warn now
that undisturbed forest below the hills, source
(versus sink) habitat of the core Sunda avifauna,
is an endangered environment, and a first
important test of the value of the newly drafted
Malaysian National Biodiversity Action Plan.
Nor are there problems only with forest birds.
Overuse of chemical insecticides in paddy
agriculture is hardly news anywhere, but one
recent event above all others - post-harvest
application of broad-spectrum herbicides
(outrageously touted by international chemical
companies) - has overnight almost turned a rich
and rewarding man-made habitat into a biological
desert. There have to be more acceptable,
sustainable ways of boosting rice production, and
unless they are found soon the outcome especially
for dependent migrants, such as Long-toed Stint
Calidris subminuta, must be serious.
In sponsoring this bulletin issue, the Malaysia
Tourism Promotion Board lends its name to a call
for action on these fronts. Instilling the principles
fins
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta by Andy Stoddart
of sustainable ecotourism among the many resort
entrepreneurs, whose world view stops at golf
courses, is an uphill task in its own right; but here
is public support from the national policy body
for more balanced use of resources. That must
include more protected areas where
conservationists advise they are most needed, and
which OBC members can continue to help
promote.
David Wells, Kuala Lumpur, October 1994.
4
Club News
1994 Tenth Anniversary AGM
The Club's 10th Anniversary AGM and Winter
Meeting will be held at the Meetings Rooms, the
Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park,
London, U.K., on the 10 December 1994. The talks
will be: a review of 10 years of the Club's
Conservation Fund by Melanie Heath, the Club's
Conservation Officer; the 'crowned' group of
Phyltoscopus warblers by Per Alstrom (who gave
a talk alongside Urban Olsson at the Club's first
Winter Meeting and AGM); Hong Kong and
central China by Alan Greensmith; and, the wild
bird trade in Asia by Stephen Nash of TRAFFIC.
The meeting will also include the formal business
of the AGM, the announcement of the Forktail-
Leica award winner and the draw for the Club's
Mega prize Draw raffle.
As usual, there will be many sales stands
offering a variety of goods and a plentiful supply
of delicious refreshments. The day's events will
conclude with an open invitation to a local
hostelry, the Prince Albert. Buffet food will be
available there at a cost of £5 per person. Booking
should be made in advance by contacting the
Club's Meeting Officer, Graeme Green, on +44
(0)296 6310879.
Joint OBC/Yorkshire Birding Meeting
A joint meeting will be held in Leeds on the 25th
February 1995. Full details about the meeting will
be circulated with Forktail 10 in January.
Mega prize Draw 1994
48 prizes worth over £2,500 in total
Once again a fabulous selection of prizes is on
offer in our annual Mega prize Draw. In addition
to a pair of the incomparable Leica 10x42
binoculars, there is also a £500 voucher for optical
equipment from In Focus, and a one week self¬
catering holiday for two in Portugal (kindly
donated by an OBC member with flights donated
by WildWings). Other prizes include books such
as ten copies of A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo,
Sumatra, Java and Bali (MacKinnon and Phillipps),
five copies of Crows and Jays (Madge and Burn)
and one copy of
volumes I and II of Birds
of Pakistan (Roberts),
subscriptions and
WildSounds vouchers
(full details are given on
the reverse of the Draw
tickets). All this means
that the Mega Grand
prize raffle is even more
attractive with a greater
chance of winning a
prize. OBC is most
grateful to all our
sponsors and supporters who have so kindly
donated the prizes for this year's event.
The Mega prize Draw is utterly essential for
the Club's Conservation Fund and provides a
substantial amount of the funding required to
support the Small Grants scheme. Some 70
projects have been supported since the inception
of the Conservation Fund and further funding is
vital if we are to continue this valuable work.
Please support the Mega prize Draw and get your
friends to purchase or sell the raffle tickets. More
tickets are available from Richard Bosanquet on
+44 (0)81-660-8076. SUPPORT CONSERVATION
- BUY OR SELL AS MANY TICKETS AS YOU
CAN!
OBC Information Service
Peter Morris has recently been co-opted onto OBC
Council as Information Officer. The provision of
information has been one of the Club's primary
aims since its formation ten years ago. With the
current increase in birders visiting the region, and
the expanding wealth of information being
produced (especially in the form of private trip
reports), Council have agreed that there is scope
to expand and improve the information service
for Club members.
The Information Officer will be responsible for
answering members' enquiries and will advise
and, where possible, supply available information
to them. In particular OBC aims to build up its
collection of trip reports and other birdwatching
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
information to a comprehensive level. This
information will then be available to all members
for a nominal fee (to cover copying costs, postage
and a small donation to the Conservation Fund).
We request that any members who have
visited the Oriental Region and who have
produced any written information that may be of
use to fellow members contact the Club. Clearly,
the quality of OBC's information service is
dependent on the reports that we receive from
you. New reports of interest to members will be
publicised in the Free Press or Stray Feathers (see
page 84) sections of the bulletin. Those who are
prepared to make their reports available to the
Club may benefit in one of two ways. Firstly, OBC
will be happy to swap reports with members who
are prepared to donate their reports to us and,
secondly, those who wish to supply copies of
reports for sale (on a sale or return basis) will be
able to sell them through the OBC Information
Service, with a small profit going to the
Conservation Fund.
The Information Officer keenly awaits to hear
from any members with information and those
with queries regarding birding in the Oriental
Region.
A new T-shirt for Autumn 1994
To continue the special celebration of our 10th
Anniversary year another OBC T-shirt design is
now available to members. The design features a
stunning male Pied Harrier and an Ibisbill by
Martin Woodcock and is printed on a light grey T-
shirt. We are most grateful to Leica whose
sponsorship helped cover the set-up costs of this
T-shirt.
As well as being available in the usual
medium, large and extra large sizes, the new
design is also available in small. This is the first
time a T-shirt has been produced in this smaller
sise but, if it proves popular, we will have other
designs in this sise in future. Many U.K. members
saw and bought the new design at the British Bird
Fair and OBC Blakeney meetings in August.
The design is now
available to everyone.
T-shirts are priced
at £11 each Surface
mail and £13 each
Airmail. A special
multiple purchase
rate of £10 each
Surface Mail and £12
r“
5
each Airmail is offered for purchases of five or
more of the new design. Please note that these
rates are exclusive to the new design and cannot
be mixed with the special multiple purchase offer
for existing designs, which can be purchased
using the general order form enclosed with this
bulletin.
OBC Member Donates £1 ,000 to
Conservation Fund
The Club is extremely grateful to Per Undeland,
who has donated £1,000 to the Conservation
Fund. As Per is presently resident in India, it was
felt appropriate to allocate the donation to two
projects in this country. Accordingly £500 was
given to Shankar Raman's study of the impact of
shifting cultivation on bird communities in
Mizoram (page 9) and £500 to Asad Rahmani and
Phil McGowan for their project on the
endangered Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis
in Uttar Pradesh (see page 8).
Donations from members are most
appreciated, especially as funding from
traditional sources (Mega prize raffle; T-shirt
sales. Corporate Sponsors, etc.) is not keeping
pace with the significant rise in grant applications.
Therefore if you would like to make a donation to
the Conservation Fund we would be delighted to
hear from you. All money entering the
Conservation Fund goes to conservation projects
in the Orient with no administration costs being
taken out.
OBC welcomes Natural History Book Service
From 1
January
1995 the
Natural History Book Service (NHBS) will be
managing the OBC Book Service and providing
members with a highly reliable and easy-to-use
mail-order service. NHBS was established in 1985
and in a relatively short space of time has become
one of the leading suppliers of books to birders
around the world. As part of their commitment to
offering an international mail-order service of the
highest quality, NHBS offer flexible payment
methods including most credit cards, and transfer
to four bank accounts, while payments in £
sterling, US$ or DM are all acceptable. In addition
to managing the OBC Book Service, NHBS will be
participating at all our main U.K. meetings and
many members will have an opportunity to meet
their friendly professional staff.
6
CLUB NEWS
In order for the Club to benefit from this new
mail order book service, members will need to
identify themselves when ordering books from
NHBS. Whilst the new service will not be offering
free postage for U.K. members or reduced rates
for members outside the U.K., we believe that it
offers much more in terms of reliability, wider
coverage of all natural history publications,
exclusive special offers on forthcoming titles and
a special search and location facility.
Special Malaysia Issue Bulletin
The Club is delighted that the production costs of
this bulletin issue have been substantially reduced
by sponsorship and advertising. We are
particularly grateful to the Malaysia Tourism
Promotion Board, which has contributed £1,500 in
sponsorship and will be distributing the pull-out
section Malaysia Birding in their London office.
Much of the success with advertising is directly
attributable to members telling bird tour
companies, optical equipment manufacturers, etc.
that they saw their advertisement in the OBC
Bulletin. Remember this simple action costs you
nothing, but the extra revenue from advertising
means further improvements to the bulletin and
extra resources for the Conservation Fund.
Two More Corporate Sponsors
In recognition of the support of Nikon U.K. Ltd in
financing colour insertions in the last issue of the
bulletin. Corporate Sponsorship status has been
conferred on this company. Similarly the Club is
indebted to the Malaysia Tourism Promotion
Board for their sponsorship of this Special
Malaysia issue, and we are pleased to welcome
this organisation as a Corporate Sponsor. The
addition of Nikon UK Ltd and Malaysia Tourism
Promotion Board means that the Club now has
thirteen Corporate Sponsors.
More Business Supporters
The number of Business Supporters has continued
to grow, helping us to fund even more honorary
members in Asia. Since May, Wildlife Computing,
Flying Colours and AandC Black (Publishers) Ltd
have become Business Supporters. Flying Colours
are renowned for their high quality photographs
of Asian birds, some of which feature in this issue
of the bulletin. Likewise AandC Black have
established themselves as publishers of quality
identification guides such as New World warblers
and Crows and jays.
INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
Beidaihe Meeting
Birders, speakers
and China TV at
the Beidaihe 1994
seminar (Photo: D.
Tipling).
Beidaihe, on China's north-east coast, has rapidly
become a mecca for birders eager to see the
spectacular passage of Oriental and Palearctic
migrants each spring and fall. In this 10th
Anniversary Year, it was therefore befitting for
OBC to participate in an event hosted by Beidaihe
Birdwatching Society. An evening meeting held at
the Jin Shan Hotel on 10 May was well attended,
drawing its audience from at least 10 countries,
including our Chinese hosts and, among them,
prominent local leaders. Even television cameras
were there to record the event, which was later
screened in the region.
The meeting was introduced by Professor Hsu
Weishu, who also translated for the Chinese
delegates. Among the speakers, Martin Williams
gave an illustrated presentation on the highlights
of the region's birds and the economic and social
problems which threaten them. Andy Gibson of
Budget Bird Tours took the spotlight at very short
notice to give an introduction to the work of OBC
and our commitment to conservation in the
Orient.
OBC is very grateful to the Beidaihe
Birdwatching Society as hosts, and both Martin
and Andy for their contributions and involvement
in organising this event, which hopefully will be
the forerunner to future joint meetings at
Beidaihe.
A0U/0BC Symposium in August 1995
The American Ornithologists' Union has invited
OBC to participate in a symposium session on
tropical ornithology at its next annual meeting,
which will be held during 16-19 August 1995. The
meeting will be hosted by the Cincinnati Museum
of Natural History, Ohio. The session, scheduled
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
7
for 18 August, will have particular emphasis on
the Oriental Region. The programme has not yet
been finalised, and speakers are still being invited
to submit abstracts of papers for presentation. If
you would like to present a paper at this meeting
or want further information please contact Dr
Robert Kennedy (USA OBC Representative) at
Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, 1720
Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1201
U.S.A. or Dave Weaver, International Meetings
Officer at the Club's address. Further details
about the meeting will be included in the next
bulletin.
OBC Manchester meeting
The Club's sixth summer meeting in Manchester
was held on 18 June, and, thanks to good publicity
in the north-west in particular, attendance was
well up on previous years.
Nigel Lindsey opened the programme with an
account of some of the lesser known birds and
sites in Pakistan and India, including his visit to
see the enigmatic Jerdon's Courser Rhinoptilus
bitorquatus. Peter Morris then entertained us with
a comprehensive tour of Northern India and
Nepal, encompassing all the better known sites
and illustrated by Pete's incomparable slides - he
always seems to manage to photograph a
remarkably high number of the birds he sees!
Finally, Mark Beaman enthralled us with an
account of a recent visit traversing the Tibetan
plateau. Not only is Tibet one of the most remote
and inaccessible regions in Asia, it is also highly
sought-after both as a birding and a travel
experience. Rather few birders have been lucky
enough to get to Tibet and it was a pleasure to be
given a comprehensive account of its delights and
hardships.
Thanks are due to all who helped make this
meeting a success, in particular Graeme Green,
and Nona and Graham Finch.
New OBC Display stand
OBC's new display board was unveiled in August
at the British Birdwatching Fair and our own
Blakeney meeting. The eye-catching display
summarises the work of the Club and especially
our commitment to supporting conservation
work in the region. OBC is most grateful to Eng-
li Green, Bob Hibbert and Colin Poole for
designing and preparing the display material.
Another successful Blakeney Meeting...
Once again Blakeney Village Hall, Norfolk,
resounded to the applause of a capacity audience
(and indeed the sounds of the rainforest) during
the annual August Bank Holiday meeting. Over
300 people contributed to another memorable
occasion for the Club on its 10th anniversary.
Importantly this year we were very pleased to
welcome our representatives and members from
Thailand, Viet Nam, Philippines and Indonesia.
Tim Loseby, one of our most popular speakers,
started the meeting with a superb photographic
tour of the sights, birds and other wildlife found
in Sri Lanka. Following on, Michael Poulsen from
BirdLife International gave a thorough account of
survey work carried out in the extremely
endemic-rich remaining hill forests of Luzon,
Philippines. Rudyanto, also from BirdLife, gave a
brief but enthusiastic presentation on the work of
the BirdLife Indonesia Programme. Finally, Peter
Morris took us light-heartedly through the
rigours of birding in the Philippines, but amply
illustrated with some stunning endemics of which
Great Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi was a
major highlight.
Although no longer our Meetings Officer,
special thanks are due to Dick Filby for standing
8
CLUB NEWS/CONSERVATION FUND
in and once again so energetically organising and
chairing the event. An astounding £1,450 was
raised during the day, with over £700 in sales
alone! The culinary delights prepared by Nona
Finch and her team were, as ever, greatly
appreciated by all and also raised over £300. OBC
is most grateful for their hard work and support.
India Special Bulletin for 1995
The November 1995 issue of this bulletin will be
dedicated to the Indian Subcontinent. If you are
interested in writing an article or supplying
photographs or artwork for this special issue
please contact the OBC Bulletin Editor at the
Club's U.K. address.
Join OBC Editorial Committee!
The OBC Editorial Committee is looking to bolster
its current committee in 1995. This is to cope with
the demands of producing two bulletins and
Forktail annually and bring in new skills and
experiences. For instance, it is envisaged that the
1995 edition of Forktail will be in a new format and
that the current Bulletin Editor will step down at
the end of 1995. If you feel that you can contribute
and help with the Club's publishing please
contact Adrian Long at the Club's U.K. address.
Photographs in Club News by Tim Loseby
Burt Monroe
It was with great sadness that we learned of Burt
Monroe's death, which is a great loss to
ornithology. Burt will probably be best known to
members as the co-author of Distribution and
taxonomy of birds of the world - related to this he
was leading an international committee of experts
undertaking an authoritative review of the
English names of the world's birds. His
tremendous energies and leadership during this
ambitious project will be difficult to replace. We
offer our sincere condolences to his family and
friends.
Helping OBC
OBC Editorial Committee would like to thank
profusely Bob and Scott Hibbert, and Michelle
Hines for their sterling work in the production of
this bulletin. Without their continued support and
efforts we would not be able to produce such a
large and colourful issue. The committee would
also like to thank Rob Still of Rubythroat
Publications for his patience and help in getting
this issue completed on time.
Correction: On page 3 of Bulletin 19, the final
sentence of the paragraph on OBC T-shirts should
have read, '...OBC T-shirts are now an important
source of income for the Club's funds../
Conservation Fund
Compiled by OBC Conservation Officer, Melanie Heath
Major awards for 1994 The winners of the Sixth Forktail Leica Award and First OBC In
Focus Conservation Awareness Award will be announced at the
Club's AGM on 10 December.
Knobbed Hornbill in Sulawesi A grant of £500 has been given to a project led by the Biological
Science Club in Indonesia to study the Knobbed Hornbill
Acer os cassidix, a species endemic to Sulawesi and surrounding
islets. The hornbill population, which is found in both lowland
and montane habitats, is decreasing due to hunting and habitat
destruction. This project will gather comparative data on the
species' status and ecology in lowland and montane habitats in
northern Sulawesi, together with information on hunting and
forest destruction rates.
OBC would like to thank the New South Wales Field
Ornithologists' Club for their kind donation of £200 which has
been awarded to this project.
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
9
Conservation research in A grant of £500 was awarded to three Indonesian students,
Java hill forests working together with two Dutch students, to conduct surveys
of the Javan Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus bartelsi in central Java. The
group have already collected valuable information on breeding
and distribution of the eagle and are currently giving a series of
presentations of their results at universities in Java.
Gunung Halimun A grant of £500 was awarded to the Gunung Halimun 1994 Java
Expedition, comprising six members of the Biological Science
Club in Jakarta and five students from the University of East
Anglia, U.K. The team will conduct research to assess the effect
of human usage and population pressures on birds and forest
vegetation around the periphery of Gunung Halimun National
Park, south-west of Bogor. The team have recently received full
funding for the project and have therefore kindly requested that
this grant be allocated to another needy project, for which OBC
is very grateful.
A grant of £500 has been awarded to Shankar Raman to study
the effects of shifting cultivation on the bird communities in
Mizoram, India. This part of north-east India harbours a very
diverse avifauna of over 500 species. Shifting cultivation is one
of the major causes of habitat change in this hilly region, with
more areas being cultivated as population increases. This project
aims to answer some important questions regarding the impact
of such practices on bird populations and what conservation
measures are needed. Per Undeland generously donated £500
to fund this project.
Habitat of the Swamp Francolin Asad Rahmani and Phil McGowan received a grant of £500,
donated by Per Undeland, to fund their study of the globally
threatened Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis in the tall wet
grasslands of the Indo-Nepalese terai belt. The project aims to
describe the habitat of the Swamp Francolin and to assess the
species' use of available vegetation types for activities such as
calling, nesting and feeding young. The OBC grant will be used
specifically to fund the assessment of breeding success in
agricultural areas outside the Dudwa National Park and
compare it with that inside.
A grant of £500 has been awarded to Khlong Thom
Environment Club (KEPC) and the Khao Nor Chuchi Lowland
Forest Project (LFP) in Thailand to survey land-holdings in the
Bang Khram Reserve Forest. This area is of critical importance
for the conservation of Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi, supporting
no fewer than 13 of 21 known pairs. The Thai government has
plans to issue land-use certificates for land inside the reserve
forest but, unless properly monitored, the imposition of this
scheme could lead to further unregulated land clearance. OBC
funds will be used to enable village representatives to survey
forest cover and land-holdings in critical areas of the reserve,
and the results will be used as the basis for a comprehensive
forest zoning plan.
Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi by
Craig Robson
Shifting cultivation on
bird communities
10
CONSERVATION FUND
Birds recorded in the
The Desert National Park
Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps
by Carl D' Silva
Ecology of the Sumba Mornbill
Aceros everetti
CONSERVATION FUND IN ACTION
The Desert National Park, created in 1984 in Rajasthan, covers
over 3,000 km2 and is thus the only sizeable protected area
representative of the desert region of India. Records of birds
occurring in the park were collected for 1992-1994. We also
collected additional information from naturalists who have
visited the park in the last decade.
We recorded a total of 106 species in the park. The Indian
Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps, one of the most endangered birds of
the subcontinent, is regularly seen in the park, but it appears to
be declining in numbers. Compared to an earlier estimate in
1986 of 200-400 birds, this study revealed that there are probably
now only 50-100 individuals in the park.
Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata is a regular winter
visitor and White-browed Bushchat Saxicola macrorhyncha, the
only endemic in the region, was frequently recorded in the park
and is possibly more numerous than previously thought. More
than 20 species of raptor were recorded, together with three
species of sandgrouse and ten species of lark.
During the monsoon period in July there was an influx of
species not present in the dry months such as Rain Quail
Coturnix coromandelica, Indian Courser Cnrsorius coromandelicus,
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea and Rufous¬
tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicurus. As early as mid-July,
autumn migration of birds was observed: European Roller
Coracias garrulus passed through the area and two Rufous¬
tailed Scrub-Robins Cercotrichas galactotes were recorded.
Migration was at its peak during September-October with large
numbers of European Rollers, Rosy Starlings Sturnus roseus,
Pallid Harriers Circus macrourus, Montagu's Harriers Circus
pygargus and Common Kestrels Falco tinnunculus. During
spring migration in February four White-browed Bushchats
were recorded, which suggests that the bird is quite common
but overlooked.
The Indian Desert is one of the most densely populated
deserts in the world and even inside the park there are 37
villages and many scattered homesteads. Most people are
dependent on livestock rearing, and recent increases in human
and livestock populations have resulted in the overgrazing of
much of the park outside the core areas. There is thus a need to
increase the area of the park fully protected within core zones,
which may require some management to maintain suitable
conditions for the birds.
Harkirat Sangha
The Sumba Hornbill Aceros everetti is endemic to the island of
Sumba in Indonesia and is one of the most endangered Asian
hornbills. An initial study of the species was made in 1992,
funded by an OBC small grant (£300), and a summary of
knowledge of the species given in the Little-known bird section
of OBC Bulletin 18:19-20. With funding provided by the fourth
Forktail Leica Award, I did further work on the hornbill during
its breeding season in 1993.
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
11
Forest in Gunung
Langgaliru
Nature Reserve,
habitat of the
Sumba Hornbill.
Male Sumba
Hornbill
Aceros everetti,
endemic to the
island of Sumba,
Indonesia.
A Sumba Hornbill nest hole in
Planchonella duclitan
(Katanga).
Ecology and conservation of the
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis
in the Western Ghats of southern
India
This study was carried out in the only nature reserve on Sumba,
Gunung Langgaliru, which was designated in 1992. It contains
hills (300-600 m) and deep valleys covered in primary tropical
rainforest as well as secondary forest (see photograph).
Usually the Sumba Hornbill starts breeding in October and
November when most trees are fruiting, and is then difficult to
find. We found that four tree species were used as nest sites. A
nest was observed in an evergreen Planchonella duclitan (local
name Katanga) in secondary forest at 300 m (see photograph).
Situated at a height of 23 m in a 30 m tree and at the intersection
of the first branch, the nest hole would be difficult to reach by
many predators. As is usual with hornbill nests the entrance had
been plastered up, only allowing access for the male's beak to
feed the female. The male fed the female with six species of
fruits and seeds including figs Ficus spp. He did not approach
the nest directly, but would first perch nearby and call to the
female.
The Sumba Hornbill is the largest frugivore on the island, but
it does face competition from some species which feed on the
same fruits. Crab-eating Macaques Macaca fascicularis were
regularly observed attacking hornbills feeding in the same
fruiting tree and aggressive behaviour by Yellow-crested
Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea to the hornbill was also observed.
We rarely witnessed human predation of the hornbill because
the meat is not popular; nor is it valued for the pet trade. The
Yellow-crested Cockatoo is hunted far more. Sometimes the
hornbill nests are mistaken for those of the cockatoo and the
female and young caught unintentionally. The major threat to
the species is undoubtedly the destruction of its forest habitat -
only 10% of the island remained forested in 1992.
Dedy Juhaeni
During the past few decades large areas of evergreen forest in
the Western Ghats have been destroyed for the construction of
hydroelectric projects, plantations and settlements. Fig trees
Ficus, which are especially important for the Great Hornbill,
have been heavily lopped or removed to feed domesticated
elephants. Poaching of adults and young from nests is also a
major threat. The local tribal people relish hornbill meat and
often poach hornbill nests they come across while collecting
honey. Honey is a major source of income to the native forest
people of southern India. The honey bee of these forests breeds
in large combs placed in the branches of lofty ancient trees,
exactly coinciding with the breeding season of the hornbill.
These threats have resulted in the decline in numbers and range
of the Great Hornbill and it is officially declared an endangered
species in India.
Between 1991 and 1993 we conducted a study of the Great
Hornbill to identify the ecological requirements for its survival.
The study was based in the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in
the Anaimalai hills of Tamil Nadu and was partly funded by an
OBC Small Grant (£500) provided by ORNITHOLIDAYS. ’
Fruiting phenology of principal fruits consumed by the
12
CONSERVATION FUND
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis by
Kamol Komolphalin
hornbill were monitored over the two year period. Lipid-rich
fruits, produced by deep forest trees were highly seasonal in
their availability, and their production in the hot season
coincided with the breeding season of the hornbill. These fruits
showed a staggered pattern of availability. Sugary fruits,
represented mainly by several species of figs, were available
year round. Figs fruited during times of low availability of other
resources and were heavily preferred by hornbills and other
fruit-eating birds. Figs therefore played a keystone role in the
maintenance of the frugivorous community. Nesting and
foraging habitat of the hornbill were quantified, and the results
indicate the overwhelming importance of the mature forests
with large trees for the nesting and foraging of the hornbill. A
Great Hornbill nest was observed for 183 hours during the
study. A total of 3,104 food items was delivered to the nest by
the parent hornbills, of which 72.9% were fig fruits. The adults
delivered 19 species of fruits and at least seven species of
vertebrate food to the nest. Animal food was delivered more
after the chick hatched than during incubation. Males visited the
nest most frequently just after the chicks hatched and then
declined. The entire nesting cycle lasted 102 days. The nesting
habitat study also showed the hornbill' s dependence on pristine
undisturbed and mature stands of wet forests with large trees.
An assessment of various issues relevant to the conservation
of the endangered Great Hornbill and of the mountain forests
of southern India was made and management steps
recommended. It is very important to protect remaining mature
stands of wet evergreen forest, and to actively manage and
protect fig tree populations. The identification, monitoring and
increased protection of traditional nest sites is needed. Other
important measures include enforcing anti-poaching laws and
controlling honey collection when it is in conflict with hornbill
nesting. The local tribal people can be encouraged to help to
conserve the Great Hornbill by increasing their awareness
through education, promoting ecotourism, and involving them
in future research projects on the hornbill. For example, tribal
people from each major village could be appointed as paid
guards to protect the hornbill against poaching and illegal
honey collection. The feasibility of introducing bee hives into
the major honey collection villages and thus taking the pressure
off the forest could be investigated.
Ragupathy Kannan
Winter ecology and conservation Migrant landbird populations are declining in North America
of migrant birds in south India and Europe, but little is known about the status of Asian
migrants.
This study of migrant warblers wintering in south India is
the first detailed investigation of forest migrant birds in the
country. The work is being conducted on a 20 ha forest plot at
Mundanthurai in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve,
Tamil Nadu. We documented the habitat associations and
territorial behaviour of three common warbler species at
Mundanthurai, namely Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus
trochiloides, Large-billed Leaf-Warbler P. magnirostris and
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
13
Crane ecology and
bird conservation
Blyth's Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum. The most
interesting discovery was that of apparent habitat-based sub¬
division within the P. trochiloides population: several interesting
behavioural differences between individuals in two habitats
(riverine semi-evergreen forest and dry deciduous forest) were
documented, including different arrival, departure and moult
schedules, but no clear differences in morphology. Further work
will continue during winter 1994-1995.
Madhusudan Katti
A study of the Sarus Crane Grus antigone was carried out during
1992 and 1993, assisted by a donation from Sunbird Tours, at
Lumbini in Nepal. The area, lying 200 km south-west of
Kathmandu, was once cultivated but a project, launched in the
1970s, has transformed the landscape to grassland, secondary
forest and wetland. The site has become an important nesting
area for herons, egrets and the Sarus Crane, which villagers
regard as a symbol of love and happiness and thus afford
special protection.
We studied the home range, habitat utilisation, nesting
location and habitat preference of Sarus Cranes. Results reveal
that annual home ranges differed considerably and their
seasonal home range also varied greatly, due to dry climate
(food availability), social interaction (communal roost) and
nesting activity.
The time spent by cranes in each habitat type was examined.
The mean annual habitat utilisation by these birds was 43% in
wetland habitats (including paddyfields and ponds), 24% in
fallow land and 8% in wheat fields, with a variety of other
habitats (none of which exceeded 8%) accounting for the
remaining percentage. Habitat use varied throughout the year
according to crop rotation and the seasons. Wetlands, such as
paddyfields, streams and mud pools, were important habitat
during the monsoon and the dry season. During the monsoon
season most of the cultivated land is under paddy plantation.
The rivers and streams are swollen and the paddyfield provides
feeding and nest sites. After the harvest of the paddy crop most
of the fields are left barren, and the cranes then spent much time
in this habitat.
The recorded crane density was 0.6 birds per km2. The
turnover rate was found to be alarmingly low: in the pre-nesting
communal flock there were only 3 juveniles among the 66 cranes
i.e. only 4.5%, indicating nesting failure or loss of unfledged
chicks. Nest site location and dimensions were also studied.
Combined results from 1992 and 1993 from 24 nests showed that
the cranes preferred to nest chiefly in the paddyfields, followed
by ponds and flooded grassland and rarely in the flooded forest.
Generally the cranes preferred to build their nests far away from
human settlement, with water around the nest and small shrubs
for camouflage. The mean clutch size was just over 1 egg per
nest but the egg loss was high at 52%.
Lumbini is a communal roost for many other species and a
total of 238 bird species was recorded, including harriers, storks,
egrets, herons, parakeets, mynas, and other passerines.
14
CONSERVATION FUND
Approximately half the bird species using the area are
migratory, most being winter visitors (e.g. ducks and harriers)
whilst a few summer visitors come to breed, such as Asian
Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi and Cinnamon Bittern
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus. It is hoped that further wetland habitat
may be created in the area to ensure safe breeding of Sarus
Cranes and encourage further species to utilise the area.
Rajendra N. Suwal
Survey of endemic birds in Cebu
Cebu Flozverpecker Dicaeum
quadricolor//e/d sketch by Guy
Du t son
An OBC grant of £500 part funded a survey of endemic birds on
Cebu Island, Philippines. Cebu is considered the most denuded
island in the central Philippines, and with the loss of the natural
forests the wildlife has disappeared at an alarming rate. The
primary objective of this survey was to examine the endemic
Cebu species and subspecies extant in the remaining forest
patches on the island. Twelve areas were covered, two of which
were natural forest, three a mix of natural and man-made forest,
two areas purely man-made forest and the remaining areas
scrub forest.
The surveys showed that two endemic species and five
subspecies are extant in these areas but that only one site,
Tabunan Forest, hosts all seven endemics and was the only
place where Cebu Flowerpecker Dicaeum quadricolor, Colasisi
Loriculus philippensis and White-vented Whistler Pachycephala
homeyeri was observed. One endemic species, the Black Shama
Copsychus cebuensis, which seems to thrive in secondary
vegetation and bamboo thickets, can be considered more
tolerant of degraded habitats. However, none of the endemic
species or subspecies was observed at three of the surveyed
sites, which were man-made forest planted with introduced
species of mahogany, Gmelina, Ipil-ipil and Kakawati, which
produce toxic substances that suppress the growth of
surrounding plants.
Tabunan Forest, despite its protected status as part of Central
Cebu National Park, is threatened by habitat destruction
through conversion to agriculture and clearance for human
settlements. This has undoubtedly harmed the bird community
and resulted in population declines and even the local extinction
of some birds. Other specific threats to Cebu endemics include
trapping and hunting, both for meat and the cage-bird trade.
While specific hunting for threatened species is unlikely, since
birds now occur at such low densities, some are killed
incidentally during hunting of more common species.
Almost all of the survey sites are surrounded by farmlands
and there is rapid encroachment into the forest. Laws for the
protection of wildlife and its habitat have been formulated, yet
forest destruction is unchecked and continues to occur. It is
therefore imperative that the authorities responsible for the
protection of the national parks strictly implement the existing
wildlife laws and monitor their effectiveness. If the current rate
of deforestation continues, and the already small patches of
forest are further damaged and reduced, it is unlikely that these
endemic birds will survive.
Perla Magsalay
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
15
Survey Results from Nakai-Nam
Theun
A five-month survey of the Nakai-Nam Theun
National Biodiversity Conservation Area in
central Laos has recently been completed with
the support of the Wildlife Conservation
Society (WCS). At 3,500 km2, Nakai-Nam
Theun is the largest of the 17 newly designated
reserves in the country and is dominated by
pristine dry evergreen slope forest. Also
included in the reserve is 350 km2 of the Nakai
Plateau, a 1,200 km2 area of gently rolling
pine/broadleaved forest, including over 200
km of some of the best riverine forest in
South-East Asia. Outside of the current reserve,
in the mountains to the north lies a much
wetter forest type which may be similar to the
ever-wet forests of the Vu Quang Reserve in
Viet Nam, which directly adjoins Nakai-Nam
Theun.
A remarkable diversity of wildlife was
found during the survey, including about 400
bird species (though this list is still far from
complete, and little time has so far been spent
in the higher montane areas). At least eight Red
Data Book species were present. Good
numbers of Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa
and Rufous-necked Hornbills Acer os nipalensis
occurred above 1,000 m. Along the forested
lowland rivers and streams, Blyth's Kingfisher
Alcedo Hercules and several White-winged
Ducks Cairina scutulata were found. In the
wetter forests. Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata
were numerous and the first Short-tailed
Scimitar-Babblers Jabouillea danjoui outside Viet
Nam were seen. Small numbers of Siamese
Fireback Lophura diardi and Red-collared
Woodpecker Picus rabieri were also present on
the Nakai Plateau. Many hunters also reported
an all blue-black pheasant with a straight tail
which might well prove to be Imperial
Pheasant Lophura imperialis, though sadly no
specimens were found. There was an excellent
supporting cast of ten near-threatened species,
including Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea,
Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo Carpococcyx
Around the Orient
Compiled by Colin Poole
renauldi, Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus
temnurus, Pied Falconet Microhierax melanoleucos
and White-winged Magpie Urocissa whiteheadi.
Although the area had been visited by two
pre-war collecting expeditions, the survey
revealed perhaps ten new species for the
country and another 30 or more new to the
'Central' region of Laos.
Despite the impressive ornithological
discoveries, these were eclipsed by the
mammals. Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis , the
bizarre ox first found at Vu Quang in 1992,
proved to be quite widespread in Laos, mainly
in the wetter forest. Many hunters knew of it
and produced about 20 sets of horns.
Remarkably, the Saola was not the only
unknown large mammal in the area, as an
undescribed species of Muntjac deer was also
found. It is markedly larger than the sympatric
Indian Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak and has
disproportionately large antlers and different
coloration. It occurs in drier forest in the
reserve, but probably also over much of central
Laos and Viet Nam. In January and February,
numerous sets of antlers were found in villages
(more than doubly outnumbering those of
Indian Muntjac, suggesting the new species is
locally rather common). In March an adult male
was found captive in a town near the reserve,
allowing the collection of tissue samples and the
first ever live photos; in April we saw two
females in the wild.
It was something of a disappointment to
return to find that a Vietnamese team had
discovered the same species in Vu Quang in
March-April and already released the news!
They rapidly published, in Vietnamese, a brief
type description of the male, without the benefit
of an intact specimen, and gave it the name
Megamuntiacus vuquangensis. It seems unlikely
that this new genus will prove valid, but there is
little doubt that it is a very distinctive species.
Though legally a reserve since December
1993, Nakai-Nam Theun is far from secure. The
most pressing threat is from logging of the
massive conifers which occur on the higher
16
AROUND THE ORIENT
slopes. In early 1994, a helicopter was being
used by a Japanese contractor, in cooperation
with the Lao military, to extract timber, and a 30
km road is being built into the heart of the
reserve to allow logging by truck. This will
increase access by settlers and hunters to the
core of the reserve, quite apart from the direct
damage to the habitat.
The other severe threat is from the Nam
Theun II Dam Project. Although technically
outside the reserve, as boundaries were drawn
to exclude it, it will flood about 500 km2 of the
Nakai Plateau. Most destructively, it will
inundate more than 95% of the forested rivers,
backing them up far outside the plateau,
destroying wetlands and gallery forest,
preventing the movement of migratory fish, and
speeding access by boat to the remoter valleys.
It will also displace 4,000 or more people, many
of whom will seek land deeper into the reserve.
All habitat for White-winged Duck in the
reserve will be inundated, as well as much of
that for Lesser Ichthyophaga humilis and
Grey-headed Fish-Eagles I. ichthyaetus and
Blyth's and Crested Kingfishers Megaceryle
lugubris. Otters will also suffer and the loss of
gallery forests may severely affect populations
of carnivores, gibbons and many ungulates
which, although they range into other habitats,
are dependent on riverine forest. The new
muntjac species also occurs in the inundation
zone. Happily, despite the fears voiced in the
last Around the Orient ( OBC Bull. 18) the Saola
Ox does not occur in or near the inundation
area.
Sadly it seems the project is too far advanced,
and too important a source of foreign exchange,
to be halted. Already the dam inundation area is
being clear-felled by a huge fleet of logging
trucks. It will, at least perhaps, provide an
incentive for protecting the forests of the
reserve, which cover 95% of the reservoir
catchment. However, two other major dams are
also planned for lower down the Nam Theun
catchment.
Other pressures on the reserve include a
major immigration of shifting cultivators from
largely deforested north Laos, and the growth
and expansion of the reserve's several thousand
local population. Hunting pressure is also a very
serious problem, with several large mammals,
along with vultures, storks and Green Peafowl
Pavo muticus, already all but extinct.
The Nakai-Nam Theun Reserve, linked as it
is with other high quality reserve areas in both
Laos and Viet Nam, has the capacity to be one of
the best in the region. Far more remains to be
discovered in the area, and in central Laos in
general, as evidenced by rumours of yet more
new large mammals, but if the growing threats
are not soon stemmed the area may be
irreparably damaged.
Contributed by Tom Evans and Rob Timmins.
Left: Megamuntiacus vuquangensis (Photo: Tom Evans, Rob Timmins/Wildlife Conservation Society
Right: Captive Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis (Photo: Frank Lambert).
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
17
XXI BirdLife International
World Conference - new
Asian Partners announced
The XXI BirdLife International
World Conference was held
from 12-18 August 1994 in
Rosenheim, Germany, the first
under the new BirdLife
identity. Among organisations
signing an agreement to
become BirdLife Partners (or
Partners Designate) at the
conference, were three from
the Oriental Region; Bird
Conservation Society of
Thailand, Wild Bird Society
R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Nature
Society (Singapore), bringing
the total number of Asian
Partners to six. In addition.
Bird Conservation Nepal has
been appointed BirdLife
Representative for Nepal.
The Asia Partner organisations
decided to establish a BirdLife
Asia Council. This met briefly
and resolved to produce a
BirdLife Asia newsletter and to
formally request that the first
BirdLife Asia Conference be
held in Indonesia in 1996. The
Council will primarily concern
itself with implementation of
an Asian Red Data Book and
an Important Bird Areas
inventory, to be carried out
over the next five years.
CAMBODIA
Major Wetland Survey
Surveys carried out this spring
by the Asian Wetland Bureau
(AWB) and the Cambodian
Government identified three
sites suitable for listing under
the Ramsar Convention and
made many exciting new
discoveries of populations of
large waterbirds (see this
issue's From the Field). In order
to assist the Government in
Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea by
Craig Robson
acceding to the Ramsar
Convention, AWB identified
Boeng Tonle Sap, coastal areas
in Koh Kong Province and
flooded forest along the
Mekong River from Stung
Treng to the Laotian border as
suitable for immediate
designation. Of these three
areas, the chief immediate
threat is to the mangrove and
Melaleucca forest of Koh Kong,
which is being commercially
felled and cleared for prawn
ponds with the backing of Thai
businessmen.
Further surveys this summer
by the government and the
International Crane
Foundation have made more
discoveries. These include three
pairs of nesting Eastern Sarus
Cranes Grus antigone sharpii, one
in Stung Treng Province and
two south-west of Lamphat in
Natanakene Province, one
Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea
along Sae Pok, and further
sightings of Woolly-necked
Ciconia episcopus and Black¬
necked Storks Ephippiorhynchus
asiaticus, Greater Leptoptilos
dubius and Lesser Adjutants L.
javanicus and Red-headed
Vultures Sarcogyps calvus.
CHINA
Crested Ibis Flown to Japan
A pair of Crested Ibises
Nipponia nippon has been flown
from China to Japan in the hope
that they will breed with the
two surviving Japanese birds
in the conservation centre on
Sado Island. The Japanese
birds are both elderly, the
female aged 27 and the male at
least 20, while the Chinese
birds are both young, aged
three-and-a-half and two-and-
a-half. Two previous attempts,
in 1985 and 1990, to mate the
Japanese birds with Chinese
birds both failed. Flowever,
Beijing Zoo has had some
success in breeding birds taken
from their home in the Qinling
mountains, Shaanxi Province.
Contributed by Michael Rank.
Three Gorges Dam -
Construction Commences
August 21 1994 was the official
start date for the construction
of the Three Gorges Dam on
the Yangtze River, but even
before this date bulldozers
were earth-moving. It is
proposed that the construction
will take place in three phases
and is projected for completion
in 2009. But there still exists’
considerable doubt over how
the project will be funded. The
World Bank is not involved
and the Chinese government is
reportedly seeking advice on
domestic and international
financing options from foreign
investment banks. Several
western companies are already
involved in the initial earth
moving contracts and the USA,
after previously rejecting
involvement in the project for
environmental and political
reasons, is now considering
allowing the US Export-Import
Bank to provide financing to
assist US companies in
winning construction contracts.
18
AROUND THE ORIENT
Qilhai Wetland in New
Reserve
The wetland of Qilhai (Seven
Mile Sea) has been included in
a newly established State-class
marine-type Nature Reserve of
over 200 km: along the coast of
Tianjin. According to Chinese
scientists the 100 km; Qilhai
wetland is a Typical lagoon
wetland characterised by fresh
air, a vast expanse of water,
thick reeds and a great variety
of species7.
Tibetan Irrigation Plan
The Chinese Government are
planning to divert significant
amounts of water for
agricultural projects in Tibet.
The Changsuo Basin Irrigation
Project is a 9,000 ha irrigation
scheme located between Dingri
and Dingrjie Counties in
Shigatse Prefecture, and the
area is reported to include the
Qomolangma Nature Preserve.
However, perhaps as important
is that the scheme plans to
divert water from the Pengun
(Arun) River via a 25 m high
dam. The lower reaches of the
Arun River in Nepal are
currently the subject of a
controversial proposed hydro-
power project, Arun III (see
Nepal).
Bustards Under Threat
Bustards are reported to be
under severe threat in China,
from hunting, egg-collecting
and habitat destruction, with
many local people reported to
be completely unaware of the
fact that they are a Grade 1
protected species. The total
population of Great Bustards
Otis tarda in northern Xinjiang,
their main breeding area, is
estimated to be 2,000-3,000
birds, while Little Bustards
Tetrax tetrax total about 1,000
and Houbara Bustard
Chlamydotis undulata 200-300.
The bustards breed in three
overlapping regions of northern
Xinjiang, with Great Bustard
mainly in the Tacheng region
and the Altai Mountains, Little
in the southern Junggar, and
Houbara in the southern Altai
foothills and the central and
eastern Junggar basin.
However, the report by scientists
from Urumqi, Xinjiang, lists
remarkably few sightings
during the 1980s, recording only
nine of Great Bustard, eight of
Little and four of Houbara.
Nine-headed Bird in Hunan!
Wen Wei Po, a Chinese-backed
Hong Kong newspaper,
reported that residents in a
mountainous area of Hunan
Province claim to have spotted
a bird with nine heads! The bird
is originally mentioned in
records from the Song Dynasty,
and legend has it that its
appearances are a bad omen.
Because of this nobody has
attempted to catch it, but it has
reportedly been seen on several
occasions by some 30 people and
is said to resemble a Turtle Dove.
HONG KONG
Further Protection for Mai Po?
The Hong Kong government is
currently considering
designating Mai Po and Inner
Deep Bay as a wetland of
international importance
under the Ramsar Convention.
A working group has been
established and is expected to
report by the end of 1994 and
Hong Kong NGOs have also
submitted their
recommendations on the scope
of the proposed site. The
government has also granted
HK$16 million over the next
three years to purchase four
remaining gei ivais for Mai Po.
However, the future of the
Deep Bay area is far from
secure, as there are still five or
six proposed developments
pending including residential
schemes and a golf course.
INDIA
Waterfowl Replace Terrorists
at Harike Lake
Harike Lake, at the confluence
of Sutlej and Beas Rivers, in
Punjab was formerly one of the
most important sites for
wintering waterfowl in India.
In the early eighties it held up
to 200,000 waterfowl and was
one of India's only sites for
White-headed Duck Oxyura
leucocephala. But after 1985 the
Mand area around Harike
Lake in Punjab became a
terrorist hideout, its
inaccessible water courses and
swamps making a perfect
hideout for the Khalistan
Liberation Force and
Commando Force. This had a
disastrous effect on the lake's
waterfowl, as not only did
poaching and illegal felling
increase, but when government
forces moved in to rid the area
of the terrorists large tracts of
elephant grass were burnt and
high-speed motor-boats were
used for intensive patrolling.
But by last year the terrorists
had been flushed out and
peace and birds had returned
to the lake.
However, there are still
several threats at work there.
The flow of effluent and
fertiliser into the lake has
resulted in the continued
unchecked growth of Water
Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes.
Many waterfowl have also
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
19
been killed by local people
using grain laced with poison.
Resolution of these problems is
difficult as the sanctuary area
consists of 86 km2 in a total
area of 400 km2 and there are
only two guards employed to
enforce the regulations. But,
with the return of peace and
the birds the Punjab State
Government is working on
declaring part of the wetland
as a tourism zone.
Quarrying in Sariska
National Park
Over the past decade about 15%
of the forest in the 800 km2
Sariska National Park in
Rajasthan, famous for its Tiger
Panthera tigris population, has
been lost. By 1991 more than
400 illegal quarries had been
opened up, blasting for
marble, dolomite and
limestone. This has resulted in
not only forest loss, but also
disruption of the park's water
table and severe disturbance
from blasting and lorry traffic.
The park's Tiger population is
now officially estimated at 22,
but may be much lower. In
1991 local people won a
campaign in the courts to
declare the quarrying illegal;
but, in spite of continued
protests, many quarries are
still in operation. It appears
that many local and national
politicians are involved in the
operation and the campaigners
have now almost given up
hope of getting the
government to act.
INDONESIA
Important Wetlands
discovered in Sumatra
A visit to the open swamps of
the Tulang Bawang in
northern Lampung Province in
1993 discovered one of the
largest egret colonies currently
known in Indonesia. This
included possibly as many as
30,000 pairs of Javan Pond-
Heron Ardeola speciosa and
over 500 Black-crowned Night
Herons Nycticorax nycticorax,
the first breeding record of the
latter in Sumatra. It also
revealed the continued
presence of Bronze-winged
Jacana Metopidius indicus, first
noted there in 1976; the species
was deemed to be resident and
although there was no positive
proof of breeding, many
immatures were present. In
view of the scarcity of this
species in apparently suitable
habitats elsewhere in Sumatra
and Java, this is thought to be
the most important site for it in
Indonesia. Also discovered
were 48 nests of Oriental
Darters Anhinga melanogaster,
the first proof of breeding in
Sumatra.
No positive evidence
however could be found for
the White-winged Duck
Cairina scutulata, known to be
present in 1976-1977. Although
interviews indicated that it is
probably still there, the
impression was gained that
there could have been a
'population crash' as a result
of the mounting pressures
against this species. The
ominous inference from this
could be that the species'
apparent adaptability to
severely degraded habitats in
Sumatra may have been an
illusion.
Recommendations have
been made for game reserve
status to cover some 12,000 ha
of the deep zone of flooding
swamps, and Strict Nature
Reserve status for the two
identified breeding sites. The
Governor of Lampung has
expressed keen interest in the
early establishment of
conservation status for the area.
Contributed by Derek Holmes,
Indonesian Ornithological Society.
Forest Fires
Large-scale forest fires have
again hit Sumatra and
Kalimantan, and the resultant
pollution has put large areas of
South-East Asia, as far away as
Peninsular Malaysia, under
smog for two months. It is
reported that over 136,000 ha
of forest have been hit by an
estimated 200 fires, and as
many as five million trees
destroyed. In Sumatra the fires
are primarily affecting two
areas, southern Lampung
Province and the Tapanuli
region near Medan. In
Kalimantan, flights to the
island have been suspended,
so it is more difficult to gauge
the effect of the fires. But,
broadly speaking, two large
areas of the south-eastern part
of the island are affected, one
between Samarinda and
Balikpapan, where 47 coal
seam fires were counted, and
the other near Palangkaraya.
The fire comes following a
six-month dry season,
prolonged by a continued El
Nino event in the Pacific, the
reversal of cross-ocean currents
and trade winds, which result
in drought in much of Australia
and South-East Asia. The fires
appear to have been started
through the use of burning to
clear land for oil-palm
plantations, and the problems
have been enhanced by poor
forestry methods, particularly
in Kalimantan, where, without
replanting, dry tinder is left
lying on open peat and coal
20
AROUND THE ORIENT
deposits. The Indonesian
government admits that it
apparently hasn't learnt from a
previous massive forest fire in
1982, which burnt an area the
sise of the Netherlands. It is
currently refusing any
international assistance, and has
little answer but to wait for the
annual rains, expected in
November.
Bali Myna Census
This year's census of Bali
Myna Leucopsar rothschildi
carried out by staff of the Bali
Barat National Park and
BirdLife International has
found only seven active
breeding pairs (one pair of
which was poached in March)
rearing a total of 24 young.
The post-breeding survey
indicated a total population of
between 36-40 individuals.
These numbers indicate a
decline on 1993 when there
were nine active pairs.
Gold in Dumoga-Bone
The Dumoga-Bone National
Park in North Sulawesi is
coming under increasing
threat from gold-mining
operations. Groups of up to
300 gold-diggers live in
semi-permanent camps deep
inside the park, primarily in
the Toraut area in the east. The
forest has been completely
destroyed or severely
damaged in a wide area
around the camps, not only
from the gold-digging itself,
but also from the negative
impact of transporting the
gold, the use of timber for fuel
and building, and the trapping
of animals for food. Both the
park director and the head of
the provincial nature
conservation department have
expressed concern, but have so
far been unsuccessful in
attempts to stop the mining.
Forest Policy
The Indonesian Forestry
Ministry has announced a
forest preservation plan that
will reduce the country's
timber harvests by nearly a
third over the next five years,
from the current 31.4 million m3
a year, to 22.5 million m? by
1999. Further parts of the plan
are a halt to investment in
forest-based industries and the
introduction of an eco-labelling
scheme on timber products
starting in 2000. However, all
is not rosy, as controversy
currently exists over a
Government decree that has
allowed the diversion of
US$185 million from the
Government's Reforestation
Fund to subsidise the state-
owned aircraft industry. In
September, the Indonesian
NGO Wahli (Indonesian Forum
for the Environment) was given
the go-ahead by the Indonesian
Courts to sue President Suharto
for directing this decree.
NORTH KOREA
Birds Mourn The Great
Leader!
The North Korean Official
Central News Agency (KCNA)
has reported some unusual
behaviour of the country's
birds following the death of
the Great Leader Kim II Sung!
KCNA reported that in
September swallows flocked to
one of his statues 'twittering
sadly . . . the swallows seem to
be expressing condolences on
the death of the fatherly leader
before flying south'.
Furthermore, hundreds of
cranes reportedly flew to
another statue at Kim II Sung
Military University and
apparently 'were reluctant to
leave'. Finally on 8 September,
the two-month anniversary of
Kim's death, 'three Little
Bitterns, a rare bird well known
to the world' according to
KCNA, 'stayed at the statue of
the Great Leader standing at
Kim II Sung University in
Pyongyang for nearly five and
a half hours'.
SOUTH KOREA
Black-faced Spoonbill Colony
Discovered
A colony of 10-20 pairs of
Black-faced Spoonbills Platalea
minor has been discovered
breeding in an egretry in the
Demilitarised Zone, of the Han
River Estuarv north of
J
Kanghwa Island, Kyonggi
Province. This is the first
breeding record in recent years
anywhere outside of North
Korea. Due to the military
sensitivity of the area, detailed
counts were impossible this
year, but are hopefully
planned for next year. The
south coast of South Kanghwa
has been known for five years
to be an important site for
post-breeding gatherings, with
regular counts of up to 80
adults and immatures between
August and October.
LAOS
More Dams
The Laotian Ministry of
Industry has listed 58
proposed hydro-electric power
generating projects, involving
dams on most of Laos's major
rivers. So far few of these
projects have gone beyond the
feasibility stage, and with the
vast amounts of foreign money
required and the lack of interest
from foreign donors, few appear
likely ever to reach fruition.
However, it is alleged that
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
21
many of these projects may be
little more than pretexts for the
expanding timber industry.
Laos severely restricts logging
throughout the country, but
there are reports that proposed
dam sites are already being
clear-felled, particularly in the
south, for reservoirs that may
never be built.
Mekong Resort Plans
A Thai businessman has
announced plans for a major
resort development at the Kon
Phapheng Waterfalls on the
Mekong River, in remote
Champasak Province adjacent
to the Cambodian border. The
500 ha resort would include,
amongst others, two casinos,
two de-luxe hotels, a golf
course and a town of 10,000
people, and it would be served
by its own international airport.
The aim is an international
gambling resort to rival Macau
or Genting Highlands. The Kon
Phapheng Falls, although
ecologically important, are not
included under Laos's National
Protected Area Plan and there
are no laws necessitating an EIA.
MALAYSIA
Ramsar Convention Signed
On 1 June the Malaysian
government decided to ratify
the Ramsar Convention. The
freshwater lake of Tasek Bera
in Pahang has been designated
the country's first Ramsar site.
Tasek Bera, an alluvial peat-
swamp system, is one of only
two natural major bodies of
fresh water in Peninsular
Malaysia. Over 200 bird species
have been recorded, but the
siteis most important for its
diversity of fish and flora,
including several endemic
species.
World's Largest Wildlife
Sanctuary
Malaysia and Indonesia will
next year set up the world's
largest wildlife sanctuary
across the border of Sarawak
and Kalimantan in Borneo. The
park will cover 173,000 ha of
the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife
Sanctuary in the Sri Aman and
Kapit Divisions in Sarawak
and another 800,000 ha in PT
Karimun, Kalimantan. The
project is being run in
conjunction with the
International Tropical Timber
Organisation. A Sarawak
minister reported that 'after
being gazetted the area will be
fully protected and no one will
be allowed to cut down trees
or harm any wildlife'.
New Guidelines for Golf
Course Development
The Malaysian Government
approved new guidelines for
golf course development in
August, banning in future all
golf course projects in
Permanent Forest Reserves.
They will from now on only be
allowed on agricultural land
and zones separating
industrial areas from housing.
NEPAL
Arun III Project Still
Undecided
After eight years of debate, the
World Bank is reported to
have postponed the vote on
the proposed go-ahead on the
funding of the US$770 million
Arun III hydro project on the
Arun River in northern Nepal.
Critics say the run-off-river
scheme will be too big and too
expensive and that the access
road will cause major damage
to the surrounding habitat;
they are instead
recommending several smaller
schemes. Of further concern to
the project is the news that the
Chinese are planning to divert
large quantities of water from
the upper Arun (Pengun)
River in Tibet for irrigation
projects (see China). This could
severely hamper the future
generating potential of any
Arun scheme in Nepal.
PAKISTAN
Western Tragopan Survey
During May-June 1994
BirdLife International surveys
of the Palas Valley, Kohistan
District, NWFP, recorded a
total of 22 calling Western
Tragopans Tragopan
melanocephalus. When added to
the results of previous surveys
from 1988, 1989 and 1991 this
gives a minimum total of 222
pairs for the valley, confirming
the status of the area as the
most important known site in
the world for this globally
threatened species. In addition
seven other restricted range
species were recorded in the
valley: Kashmir Nuthatch Sitta
cashmirensis, Tytler's Leaf-
Warbler Phylloscopus ty fieri,
Brooks's Leaf-Warbler P.
subviridis, White-throated Tit
Aegithalos niveogularis,
White-cheeked Tit A.
leucogenys , Orange Bullfinch
Pyrrhula aurantiaca and
Spectacled Finch Callacanthis
burtoni. Survey work was
conducted under the auspices
of the Himalayan Jungle
Project, which is working
together with the people of
Palas to safeguard the future
of the valley's west Himalayan
forest.
Contributed by Nigel Bean, Phil
Benstead, Dave Showier and Phil
Whittington.
22
AROUND THE ORIENT
SINGAPORE
Senoko Under Threat
More birds have been recorded
at Senoko than at any other
site in Singapore, including
Chinese Egret Egretta
eulophotes, Asian Dowitcher
Limnodromus semipalmatus and
at least 20 locally endangered
species. The 168 ha proposed
nature reserve is made up
largely of mangrove, mudflats
and open ponds with a large
wooded area. In recognition of
its national importance the
Nature Society (Singapore)
(NSS) proposed Senoko as one
of ten nature areas deemed as
'five star conservation sites' in
its 'Masterplan for the
conservation of nature in
Singapore'. In 1991, the Urban
Redevelopment Authority
accepted on principle the NSS
proposals, and later the same
year conservation history was
made when a planned railway
line was diverted south of the
site.
However, in March 1993 the
Ministry of the Environment
published a Singapore Green
Plan which included 18 sites
for nature conservation, but
left out Senoko and another
important wetland site, Khatib
Bongsu. Although Khatib
Bongsu was later given status
as the ninetennth site,
following appeals from NSS,
Senoko has been left out due to
plans to build a major new
town site and housing estate
on the area. NSS is currently
mounting an appeal to save at
least 50 ha of the area and is
carrying out its own EIA.
Contributed by Lim Kim Seng.
TAIWAN
Black-faced Spoonbills
Secure?
The world's largest wintering
flock of Black-faced Spoonbills
Platalea minor at Tseng-wen-chi,
Tainan County, has been
under threat for the past two
years. Previously a military
area, the site was opened up
two years ago and local
villages decided that the
mudflats could be reclaimed as
a development area. However,
the presence of a protected
species prevented them from
doing this, so in the winter of
1992/93 some local people
began shooting at the
spoonbills, several of which
were killed and others injured.
Following this, the
Government has frozen the
potential development plans
for the area, and during the
winter of 1993/94 local bird
clubs mounted a round-the-
clock watch to ensure the birds
were not shot at. This was
apparently successful, with no
birds known to have been
injured, and it is hoped that
this can be repeated during the
coming winter.
Colour-ringed Chinese Egret
Sighted
One of the colour-ringed
Chinese Egrets Egretta
eulophotes marked at the
world's largest colony. Shin
Island, South Korea, was
reported from Szu-tsao, Tainan
County, on 19 May 1994; it had
been marked in the colony in
1990. The only other sighting
of a colour-ringed bird from
Shin was at Pulau Ubin,
Singapore, on 17 October 1992,
and involved a bird also
ringed in 1990. Although the
major wintering area for
Chinese Egrets is now thought
to be the Philippines,
conclusive proof, from sightings
of marked birds, of the
wintering areas of the Shin
population is still awaited.
Please report any sightings of
colour-ringed Chinese Egrets to
Taej Mundkur, AWB, Universiti
Malaya, 59100 KL, Malaysia.
THAILAND
Pak Moon Dam Completed
On 11 June the Electricity
Generating Authority of
Thailand closed, for the first
time, four of the eight gates of
the Pak Moon Dam, completed
after two years of construction
and many more of
controversy, on the Moon
River, a tributary of the
Mekong in the north-east.
However, the construction
may have finished, but the
controversy hasn't. Protesters
are still campaigning for more
compensation for the local
villagers and for some 2,000
fishermen who are no longer
able to fish in the river.
Khao Nor Chuchi
At present only five of the
approximately 21 pairs of
Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi lie
inside the Khao Nor Chuchi
wildlife sanctuary boundary.
The remaining 16 pairs are
outside, in the Bang Khram
Reserve Forest. The Khao Nor
Chuchi Lowland Forest Project
is therefore seeking ways to
extend effective protection to
this forest through the
cooperation of the local
communities. Currently the
proposal is to extend the
wildlife sanctuary to two zones
including the remaining pairs
of Gurney's Pitta, but without
displacing any villagers and
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
23
White-crowned Hornbill Aceros
comatus by Seb Buckton
allowing sustainable use of the
community forest in the outer
zone. Further to this the project
has been instrumental in the
planting of over 12,000 trees
with many more planned from
its own nursery, and it is
running programmes of rural
development and education
involving the local villages and
schools.
Unfortunately, during the
course of the last year four
new clearings have been made
in Bang Khram Reserve Forest,
totalling 4 ha, and one of these
has deprived a pair of Gurney's
Pittas of their nesting habitat.
Hunting is also still a problem,
primarily for Lesser Mouse-
Deer Tragulus
javanicus, but this year one
young Spotted Wood-Owl
Strix seloputo was found shot,
and the young from two
hornbill nests, one
White-crowned Aceros comatus
and one thought to be Wreathed
A. undulatus, were stolen.
VIET NAM
New Discoveries in Annamese
Lowlands
A joint survey between
BirdLife International and
IUCN has made exciting
discoveries in the Annamese
Lowlands. These include the
first ever sightings in the wild
of Vietnamese Pheasant
Lophura hatinhensis. At least
nine different birds were seen
-including a pair on several
occasions and four immatures
together - in an extensive area
of primary forest in the Net
River watershed in north
Quang Binh Province.
Unfortunately, the area is
scheduled for logging.
pending the completion of a
logging road; this road¬
building operation could be
heard during the course of the
survey. However, BirdLife
staff are presently discussing
the possibility of a logging
moratorium with the Forestry
Department. Also discovered
in the same province was
Sooty Babbler Stachyris Herbert i,
the first record of the species
since its original discovery in
Laos 70 years ago (See this
issue's From the Field).
Main sources (unless
otherwise stated)
Asian Wetland News, Bangkok Post,
BBC YJildlife, Bernama, BirdLife
International, China Flyway,
Chinese Journal of Zoology, The
Economist, Far Eastern Economic
Review, Hong Kong Birdwatching
Society Bulletin, Ross Hughes,
Indian Express, India Today,
International Rivers Network,
Khao Nor Chuchi News, New
Scientist, Straits Times, Oryx, Taej
Mundkur, Michael Rank, Reuters,
The Star (Kuala Lumpur), Straits
Times, Brian Sykes, Tibetan
Environmental and Development
News, Per Undeland.
THE AMERICAN
BIRDING
ASSOCIATION
invites members of the Oriental Bird Club into our
membership. If you join the only North American asso¬
ciation of and for birders, you will receive Birding, our bi-monthly magazine
which gives active field birders the expertise they seek, and Winging It, a lively
monthly newsletter with the lateset happenings and rarities. Many ABA bird¬
watchers are available to advise or guide visitors to their local areas. These
members are listed in our Membership Directory.
Annual Dues: US$ 39.00 — MasterCard/VISA acceptable.
For sample copies, send US$3.50 or £2.50 to:
American Birding Association
PO Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 80934 USA
v _ _ _ J
24
Little-known Oriental bird
Kinabalu Friendly Warbler* Bradypterus accentor
Many birders visiting Kinabalu National Park leave disappointed at not seeing the enigmatic
Kinabalu Friendly Warbler. Future visitors should have little excuse as in this article Simon Harrap
dispels several myths concerning the species's habits.
I saw creeping about - almost at my feet - a
small creature which I at first thought was a
mouse, but I soon discovered that in reality the
new comer was a small Timeliine bird. This little
brown bird was if anything tamer than the species
just shot [White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx
montana \, and was only secured after ten minutes
in trying to get away from it; and when shot it was
too much hit. This bird. ..was not only a new
species but a new genus: it has been named
Androphilus accentor [i.e. the man-loving Accentor].
What mistaken confidence, poor bird! The few
specimens of these two species obtained by me
invariably sought us out in the forest, appearing
within a few yards or often under our very toes.
I have been closely followed by an Androphilus for
fifteen yards or so, as I walked slowly purposely
to see how far the little friendly bird would
follow. The Kadyans used to laugh at and call these
little innocents 'bodo', i.e. fools....' 9
The Kinabalu Friendly Warbler, or Friendly
Bush-Warbler, Bradypterus accentor has one of the
most restricted ranges of any Oriental bird. It is
confined to Sabah, Malaysia, where it is found on
just three massifs. Mount Kinabalu and the
adjacent peaks of Mount Trus Madi to the north
and Tam Boyukan to the south2.
The species was discovered by John
Whitehead, who commented: T onlv met this
species at from 7,000-9,000 feet where it
frequented the dark and damp patches of forest,
amongst the wet moss-covered fallen trunks of
large trees, where this peculiar bird was found
singly.... If this bird ever frequented the lower
altitudes of Kina Balu it has long since been
exterminated by the Dusun rat-traps, which no
doubt account for its scarcity at the altitudes it
now frequents'9. Despite Whitehead's statement
that the species was found at 7,000-9,000 feet
(2,135-2,745 m), the most frequently used
subsequent literature has emphasised that it is
found at higher altitudes.
Smythies8 reported that Harrisson found it to
be quite common at 10,000-12,000 feet (3,050-3,660
m) and, as a result, most modern observers have
looked for the species above 3,050 m, rushing
through the altitudinal band where the Friendly
Warbler is, if not most abundant, certainly easily
found. Perhaps as a consequence, visitors to
Kinabalu often find the Friendly Warbler far from
friendly, and in fact easy to miss. Most recently
Davison2 noted that the species has apparently
become considerably less common, but notes that
it may not be as rare as reports suggest, for all
Bradypterus warblers are inveterate skulkers. He
gives the altitudinal range as 2,100-3,650 m, being
most abundant perhaps in the upper montane
forest. On Mount Trus Madi, a single specimen
was collected at 7,600 feet (2,315 m)7, and one was
seen at 5,800 feet on 8 December by T. Harrisson5.
Emphasising the species's rarity, it is listed as
'near-threatened' in Collar and Andrew1, but
what of the reports that the species has declined?
In August 1994, admittedly whilst making a
special effort to find the species, I saw at least nine
Friendly Warblers and heard several others along
the main trail, despite a more or less constant
procession of climbers, porters, etc. They respond
well to pishing, and will often approach to within
a couple of metres. I can only conclude that they
are common for, once above 7,500 feet (2,285 m),
a prolonged period of 'pishing' will almost
inevitably produce a Friendly Warbler wherever
one stops. Perhaps, then, the major reason for the
so-called decline of the species is the fact that,
instead of struggling slowly through the thick
moss forest like the early explorers, with the
resulting opportunities to observe small birds in
their habitat, modern birdwatchers make use of a
broad, well-made trail, and effectively confine
their activities to the edge of the forest.
Perhaps the greatest misconception concerns
the species's vocalisations. Smvthies8 notes that it
is normally silent, although uttering a single chuck
1
3
Bush-Warblers
1, 2, and 3: Friendly
Bush-Warbler Bradypterus
accentor on Mount Kinabalu,
Sabah (Photos: Simon
Harrap). 4, and 5: Long-tailed
Bush-Warbler B. caudatus,
Luzon, the Philippines
(Photos: David MacLeman).
2
5
4
26
LITTLE-KNOWN ORIENTAL BIRD
Figure 1
4
3
t t t t
trp trp trrzzz!
0.5 1.0
>-
u
c
CD
3
CT
QJ
0.5 1.0
1.5
2.0 2.5
trp trp trrzzz!
0 0.5 1.0
Time ( s
Figure 1 a-c: Sonagrams of Bush-Warblers
(band width 300 Hz). la) Kinabalu
Friendly Warbler Bradypterus accentor
typical song, recorded at Kinabalu; lb)
Kinabalu Friendly Warbler variant song,
recorded at Kinabalu; lc) Long-tailed
Bush-Warbler B. caudatus song, recorded
Q C ) at Luzon, Philippines.
note if disturbed, and also (following Harrisson)
records a hissing note and single weak whistle.
This is repeated by MacKinnon and Phillipps6,
whilst Davison2 similarly repeats Smythies's
notes, but also specifically states that They are
normally silent birds without any loud song../
In fact, in common with other Bradypterus
warblers, the Kinabalu Friendly Warbler has a
rather loud, far-carrying song. I have visited
Mount Kinabalu five times in the period
June- August, and have heard the species singing
on every occasion that I have been within its
J
altitudinal range. Although it is not abundant, I
have usually heard 4-5 individuals singing during
a morning's walk.
The song is a high-pitched phrase, reeling or
buzzing, and on one pitch, comprised of two short
units and a longer and harsher, buzzing terminal
unit (or units, as this is stuttered and almost
disyllabic; see Figure la): dzhee-dzhee- zeeeeee'ah,
dzhee-dzhee-zeeee ee'ah..., or trp trp trrzzz, trp trp
trrzzz.... It is sometimes repeated for prolonged
periods (at a rate of c. 40 phrases per minute). This
is the normal song, but in August 1994 I recorded
another variant (Figure lb). It is made up of four
distinct units, tu di dzu-yu, tu di dzu-yu....
Recognisable as that of a Friendly Warbler, it is
weaker and mellower in tone than the normal
song, and at a lower pitch. Although each phrase
is of the same duration as the normal song, it is
delivered in a more hesitant fashion, with only
c.21 phrases per minute.
Identification of Kinabalu Friendly Warbler is
usually straightforward. The only vaguely similar
species found on Mount Kinabalu is Sunda
Bush-Warbler Cettia vulcania (although it would
be possible to confuse the young of one of the
resident flycatchers, which show spots on the
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
27
underparts, in a poor view). Note also that the
immature plumage of the Friendly Warbler
apparently lacks the white throat10.
Sunda Bush-Warbler is rather commoner, and
is often (but not always) abundant around the
park headquarters at c. 1,525 m. It has a slurred,
whistled song (which recalls Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus), very different from the
Friendly Warbler's reel. It is also smaller, a paler,
more ochracheous brown above, and uniformly
pale greyish on the underparts. MacKinnon and
Phillipps6 have caused some recent confusion by
highlighting the Kinabalu race of Sunda
Bush-Warbler C. v. oreophila, which they state is
darker than other races, with black blotching on
the throat and breast. Their plate depicts it as
rather similar to the Friendly Warbler. But such
spotting has never been apparent to me, either in
the field or photographs, and examination of
specimens indicates that their spotted appearance
is due to the method of preparation, with the
breast feathers greyish-drab with fine white shaft
streaks and no dark spotting. Note also that
MacKinnon and Phillipps's6 description of the
song of Bornean Stubtail Urosphena whiteheadi,
tzi-tzi-tzeee, is equally applicable to the Friendly
Warbler; the stubtail's song is, however,
exceedingly thin and high-pitched.
Little is known of the Friendly Warbler's
biology. Its diet includes insects and spiders, but
the nest and eggs are apparently undescribed8.
The taxonomic relationships of the Kinabalu
Friendly Warbler were discussed by Delacour3,
who considered it to be very closely allied to
Long-tailed Bush-Warbler B. caudatus of the
Philippines, differing in its shorter and less frayed
tail, made up of ten rather than 12 feathers, and
weaker legs and feet. Field observations have
confirmed their similarity and, significantly, the
songs of the two species are very similar. On
Luzon the song of B. caudatus is comprised of two
short units followed by a longer, harsher and
more buzzing unit, trp, trp trrzz, trp, trp trrzz... (see
Figure lc). The speed of delivery is very similar to
the normal' song on Kinabalu, but the phrase is
higher-pitched, slightly shorter, and the last unit
more definitely monosyllabic.
In spite of the similarity between the songs of
Kinabulu Friendly Warbler and Long-tailed Bush-
Warbler, the slight differences may be
disproportionately important. In this respect, it is
notable that Long-tailed Bush-Warbler of the race
unicolor on Mount Katanglad in Mindanao reacted
poorly, if at all, to playback of the song of birds of
the nominate race tape-recorded on Mount Polis
on Luzon, but then responded well to tapes of
their own songs (pers. obs., February 1994). It is
also worth placing on record that tape-recordings
of birds from Mount Polis by J. Scharringa, which
he identified as Russet Bush-Warbler B. seebohmi
(a species known from just three specimens in the
Philippines), in fact refer to Long-tailed Bush-
Warblers, contra Dickinson et aid.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Richard Ranft of the British
Library National Sound Archive for preparing the
sonagrams at short notice, and for comments on
bush warbler songs, and to Tim Inskipp for
drawing to my attention the note relating to the
Friendly Warbler's immature plumage.
References
1. Collar, N. J. and Andrew, P. (1988) Birds to watch: the
ICBP world checklist of threatened birds. Cambridge,
U.K.: International Council for Bird Preservation
(Techn. Pubn. 8).
2. Davison, G. W. El. (1992) Birds of Mount Kinabalu,
Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural Elistory
Publications (Borneo).
3. Delacour, J. (1942-1943) The bush-warblers of the
genera Cettia and Bradypterus, with notes on allied
genera and species. Ibis 84: 509-519; 35: 27-40.
4. Dickinson, E. C., Kennedy, R. S. and Parkes, K. C.
(1991) The birds of the Philippines. An annotated
checklist. Tring: British Ornithologists' Union.
5. Fogden, M. P. L. (1965) Borneo bird notes, 1963-65.
Sarawak Mus. J. 12: 395-413.
6 MacKinnon, J. and Phillipps, K. (1993) Afield guide to
the birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. The Greater
Sunda Islands. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
7 Smythies, B. E. (1957) An annotated checklist of the
birds of Borneo. Sarawak Mus. J. 7: i-xv, 523-818.
8 Smythies, B. E. (1981) The birds of Borneo. 3rd edn.
Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur: Sabah Society
and Malayan Nature Society.
9 Whitehead, J. (1893) Exploration of Mount Kinabalu,
North Borneo. London.
10 Whitehead, J. (1893) (Letter) Ibis (6)5: 281.
Simon Harrap, 13 Hempstead Road, Holt,
Norfolk, NR25 6DL, U.K.
* Kinabalu Friendly Warbler, rather than Friendly
Bush-Warbler, is used at the author's request.
Masked Finfoot
1: Adult male Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata
at Taman Negara, May 1992 (Photo: Mike Chong).
2 and 3: Masked Finfoot, Krabi mangroves,
Thailand (Photos: Simon Harrap).
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
29
Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata in
Peninsular Malaysia
Finfoots are enigmatic and poorly known birds, thought by some to be closely related to rails and
coots, but occupying their own family, Heliornithidae. Represented by only three species in the
world they are each confined to one of the major continents of Asia, South America and Africa. In
this article Mike Chong pieces together the information on Masked Finfoot in Malaysia and gives
an illuminating account of their breeding status, habitat preferences, habits and conservation there.
Introduction
Masked Finfoot is a globally threatened species
found over a wide area from Assam through most
of South-East Asia to Sumatra and Java (but not
yet known from Borneo). It is apparently a
vagrant to Java, the only record being a bird in
coastal mangroves at Pulau Rambut, West Java, in
19846. King3 treats the species in South-East Asia
as a lowland resident in Burma, Peninsular
Malaysia, Peninsular, central and south-east
Thailand, Cambodia, and South Annam; and of
uncertain status in north-west Thailand.
Lekagul and Round5 prefer to regard its status
in Thailand as a passage migrant and winter
visitor in north, north-east west and Peninsular
Thailand, but mention that it may breed there.
Indeed there is now a sighting10 of a pair and three
young in the mangroves of Krabi, Peninsular
Thailand, on 29 May 1992 which, if accepted,
would be the first breeding record for Thailand
and the Greater Sundas. Additionally, a team
from the Bangkok Bird Club (now Bird
Conservation Society of Thailand)4, with the help
of an OBC survey grant, made several surveys of
Tarutao Island, off the extreme south-west coast
of Peninsular Thailand in April and December
1992, and January 1993. They recorded the species
on each visit and thought it to be resident in the
mangroves there.
Status in Malaysia
Contrary to King, Medway and Wells consider
Masked Finfoot to be a non-breeding visitor to the
Malay Peninsula as there are no breeding records.
Although observations of the species have
increased in the last decade this lack of evidence
of breeding unfortunately continues. Its earliest
recorded appearance in Peninsular Malaysia is 8
December1' with a record from Taman Negara
National Park. This is consistent with sightings by
the author, on 1 January, at Thaleban National
Park, Thailand and at Ulu Yam, Selangor.
The birds apparently leave their 'wintering7
areas in the Peninsula by late June each year, but
where they go to is not known. Either they
perform a long-distance migration or simply
disperse locally to a remote and secretive habitat.
The species7 status as a migrant is well
documented12 through a bird mist-netted on 27
December during night-migration ringing studies
at Fraser's Hill, Pahang, by the Department of
Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN).
Prior to this record, apparent migrants were also
recorded” at sea near Pulau Langkawi and flying
into a building in Melaka town.
However, in recent years I have made
sightings of Masked Finfoot at Taman Negara,
which possibly suggest that it does breed in
Malaysia. On 28 March 1992, 1 observed a juvenile
Masked Finfoot near an adult on the Tahan River.
The juvenile flew off about 20 m downstream
when approached by boat. It landed and sat on a
sandbank opposite with its neck stretched straight
upwards, but the head held in a horizontal
position, and remained there motionless for about
30 seconds. It was smaller than the adult, the body
and head was light brown with a darker shade on
the wings, the neck was buffy with black mottling
on the side of the face and chin; and the smaller
bill was creamy-yellow with a black ridge on the
upper culmen. As the boat drew almost level it
flew off low over the water, disappearing from
view under overhanging branches lining the
river.
Further evidence of possible breeding comes
from the record of a male with a small knob at the
base of its upper mandible at Taman Negara
National Park on 19 May 1991 (Plate 1). Lekagul
and Round5 suggest that the breeding male
acquires this feature. Nevertheless, this cannot be
30
FEATURE: MASKED FINFOOT
construed as a definite breeding record: the bird
may have been a non-breeding adult remaining
on its wintering grounds; a bird about to depart
to breeding grounds; or, conceivably, a bird
which had migrated there immediately after
completing breeding elsewhere. These
observations indicate that a longer and more
extensive search is needed at Taman Negara to
determine the bird's true status there.
Habitat preferences
Masked Finfoots have been observed in a variety
of habitats in Peninsular Malaysia in recent years.
Most sightings have been in freshwater areas,
especially unpolluted pools and pristine forest
rivers.
In Taman Negara, finfoots have been seen in
the upper reaches of the Tembeling River and
along the lower reaches of the Tahan River. The
Tembeling is a large, slow-flowing and turbid
river, while the Tahan is clear and fast-flowing,
with occasional slow-moving stretches. The birds
are usually observed along the sides of the slow-
moving stretches of river where there are
overhanging riparian trees, mostly 'Kelat Jambu
Air' Eugenia grandiflora. A male finfoot observed
on 10 and 11 May 1989° on the Kinchin River at
Endau-Rompin, Pahang, further demonstrates its
partiality to riverine habitats, as does a number of
records from the River Lompat in the Krau Game
Reserve, Pahang12.
Of late, more reports of the species have come
from mangroves, especially on the west coast of
Peninsular Malaysia. The first sightings from
mangroves involved several individuals off the
north-west Perak coast in January, February and
March 1986. Recent observations come from
Pulau Tengah, a group of built-up mangrove
islands off Port Kelang, Selangor, in 1992. There
have been occasional sightings of the species at
two comparatively well-watched mangrove areas,
namely Kuala Selangor, Selangor and Kuala Gula,
Perak. Mangrove areas on the east coast are small
compared to those on the west and there are just
a couple of records from the Cherating River,
Pahang, including one on 25 April 198915.
There have been a number of recent
observations of Masked Finfoot from standing
waters such as inland lakes and vegetated pools
in Peninsular Malaysia. It has been regularly seen
over the last few years on former tin-mining pools
overgrown with lotus, underwater weed and
water hyacinth, and fringed by scrub. Although
such sightings have been restricted so far to
Selangor state, further discoveries may be made
elsewhere on the Peninsula given the abundance
of former mining pools. Surprisingly, there are no
records from the large natural lakes of Tasek Bera
and Tasek Chini, both in Pahang.
It is interesting that there have been recent
observations of the species from ornamental
lakes. A bird was observed on an ornamental lake
in Ayer Keroh, Melaka in late February 198714. A.n
individual spent two weeks on a lake at the
National Zoo, Selangor, in late February 1993 (T.
Nazim and T. Yacob pers comm. 1994). Utilisation
of habitat in exceptionally busy and open areas is
contrary to its description as a very shy bird.
Large man-made lakes created through dams
on the Peninsula tend to be very poor for
waterbirds such as ducks, grebes and moorhens,
possibly owing to deep water and lack of aquatic
vegetation, especially close to the water's edge.
Recently, in March 1994, a Masked Finfoot was
sighted on the Temenggor Dam, Perak, probably
the first record of the species utilising a large man¬
made lake or dam. Notably, however, the lake
fringe still had overhanging trees and vegetation
in sheltered bays. A specimen11 in the National
Parks and Wildlife Department's collection
labelled 'Kuala Piah, Grik', 25 May 1966, provides
a further link, as this area is situated on the same
Perak River system south of Temenggor Dam,
which is now flooded for hydroelectric
generation.
Another potential habitat that Masked Finfoot
may inhabit is the peat-swamp forests found
along the eastern and western coastal plains of
Peninsular Malaysia. These are poorly known and
clearly merit further investigation. Seasonally
flooded forests may also be another potential
alternative habitat.
Diet and feeding
The diet and foraging habits of Masked Finfoot
are little known. Food probably consists of many
different types of insects, fish, amphibians,
molluscs, small reptiles and other aquatic
invertebrates. Delacour2 describes its food as
being small fish, shrimps and snails. Feeding
behaviour has been observed by the author on a
few occasions at Taman Negara. Birds swim
slowly along the shady banks and pick small
insects from the surface of the water and from
overhanging leaves. A bird was also seen catching
a small fish in shallow water. The individual
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
31
observed on a shallow water lake at Ayer Keroh
foraged by stirring the bottom detritus with its
feet. Among 17 food items taken in 45 minutes
was a small frog14. More observations have to be
made to ascertain its feeding behaviour and diet.
Conservation and protected status
Masked Finfoot is a protected species in
Peninsular Malaysia, but it is the conservation of
its preferred habitats which will best protect it.
Most sightings of the species in riverine habitats
are from protected and semi-protected areas, such
as Taman Negara National Park, Krau Game
Reserve, and Endau-Rompin State Park. To a
certain extent, the numerous extractive forest
reserves may provide limited protection to
Masked Finfoot habitat, although they are subject
to disturbance and logging exploitation. With
much of the Peninsula's riverine forest being
unprotected the bird may be restricted in the
future to the country's protected areas.
It is encouraging that there are still extensive
areas of mangrove on Peninsular Malaysia
providing potential habitat for the species.
Flowever, in the last two decades Peninsular
Malaysia has lost about 20% of mangrove forest
through land reclamation. Mangroves are also
vulnerable to ongoing degradation and
exploitation, such as for aquaculture ponds. They
are poorly protected: the only semi-protected
mangrove areas on the Peninsula are Kuala
Selangor Nature Park; and the mangroves at the
Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary in the Matang
Mangrove Forest Reserve, which is perhaps the
best managed forest in the world8. Both these
important sites have yet to be gazetted as totally
protected areas.
The Masked Finfoot in Peninsular Malaysia
still has to be considered as a non-breeding and
winter resident due to the lack of concrete
evidence of breeding or nesting. The influx of
sightings from different habitats is encouraging
and, hopefully, increased vigilance will unravel
the breeding status of this enigmatic and special
bird in Peninsular Malaysia.
References
1. Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J. and Stattersfield A. J.
(1994) Birds to watch 2: the world list of threatened
birds. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International
(Cons. Series No. 4).
2. Delacour, J. (1947) Birds of Malaysia. New York:
Macmillan.
3. King, B. F., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W.
(1975) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia.
London: Collins.
4. Komolphalin, P. (1993) Conservation Fund in action:
bird survey of Tarutao National Park. Bull. Oriental
Bird Club 18: 13-14.
5. Lekagul, B. and Round, P. D. (1991) A guide to the
birds of Thailand. Bangkok: Saha Karn Bhaet.
6. MacKinnon, J. and Phillipps, K. (1993) A field guide to
the birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. London:
Oxford.
7. Medway, Lord and Wells, D. R. (1976) The birds of the
Malay Peninsula, 5. London and Kuala Lumpur: El.
F. and G. Witherby in association with Pernibut
University, Malaysia. Malaya.
8. Ong, J. E., Gong, W. K. (1992) The state of nature
conservation in Malaysia: mangroves. Kuala Lumpur:
Malayan Nature Society.
9. Prentice, C. R. (1989) Recent Records. Newsletter of
the Malayan Nature Society Bird Study Group. 2:6.
10. Robson, C. (1992) From the Field. Bull. Oriental Bird
Club 16: 50-52.
11. Wells, D. R. (1975) Bird Report:1972 and 1973.
Malayan Nature Journal 28: 186-213.
12. Wells/ D. R. (1983) Bird Report: 1976 and 1976.
Malayan Nature Journal 36: 197-218.
13. Wells, D. R. (1990) Malayan Bird Report: 1984 and
1985. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 148-171.
14. Wells, D. R. (1990) Malayan Bird Report: 1986 and
1987. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 172-210.
15. Wen, F.O. (1989) Recent Records. Neiosletter of the
Malayan Nature Society Bird Study Group. 2:5:2-4.
Mike H. N. Chong, 219 Jalan H7, Taman
Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2 -week birding holidays around the world with
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For a Fortnights brochure contact Birdquest at Two Jays,
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OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
33
Kuala Selangor Nature Park
- rich and accessible
Kuala Selangor Nature Park, which is the first coastal nature reserve in Asia to be run by a Non-
Governmental Organisation (NGO), has been an astounding success. Located within an hours drive
of the nation's capital it has become one of the most popular destinations for the increasing number
of Malaysians eager to learn more about their natural heritage. Here, Tony Sebastian gives an insight
to the attractions of the nature park.
Nestling at the mouth of the Selangor river, on the
west coast of the Malay Peninsula, is the Kuala
Selangor Nature Park. This 350 ha nature park has
received international acclaim as a birding site and,
more importantly, an education centre catering
for environmental awareness in Malaysia.
Opened in 1987, the Kuala Selangor Nature Park
(locally referred to as KSNP) is managed by the
Malaysian Nature Society with strong support
and cooperation from the state government.
KSNP receives almost 3,000 visitors every
month and has 12 chalets in three designs,
accommodating up to 40 people at a time. An eco-
education centre with a permanent static
exhibition, as well as an audio-visual room, caters
for student groups, tourists and researchers. All
this aside, what makes KSNP one of the premier
nature tourism sites in the region?
The town of Kuala Selangor, just outside the
park, is the historical site of Fort Altingsburg,
located on Bukit Melawati, a hill overlooking the
estuary of the Selangor river. Its bastions, which
used to protect the Sultanate from invaders and
pirates in the past, still remain today. The scenic
Bukit Melawati is also home to a habituated
population of Silvered Leaf Monkeys Trach-
ypithecus cristatus. The telecommunications tower
is home to a nesting pair of White-bellied Fish-
Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster, while six species of
owl have been recorded in the giant trees which
cover the hill. The lighthouse on the hill is of
somewhat ambiguous ornithological renown. Its
beacons, as they sweep the Malacca Straits, have
attracted hundreds of passerines on migration,
many of which collide and die there. Specimens
from this locality have contributed to collections
in museums throughout the world.
The park itself, at the foot of the hill, extends to
the coastline where the mangroves are rich and
diverse (Figure 1). The extensive mudflats
support one of the largest wintering populations
of shorebirds in Peninsular Malaysia. Some 45
species of waders, seabirds and waterbirds have
been recorded in the area, with the park boasting
of a bird list of 150 species. Among these are
threatened species like Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos
javanicus, Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata,
Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer and
Asian Dowicher Limnodromus semipalmatus.
A 55 ha shallow lake has been created with
four observation hides around it, and two of these
are watchtowers providing a panoramic view of
the park. The water level within the bund-
surrounded lake is controlled via a sluice-gate
which joins a long canal leading to the Selangor
river. The result is a brackish lagoon, used
extensively by herons, egrets, kingfishers and
birds of prey.
Other interesting bird which can be seen in the
park are mangrove specialities such as Mangrove
Pitta Pitta megarhyncha, Mangrove Blue-
Flycatcher Cyornis nifigastra, and Greater
Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus.
Testament to the honey-pot effect of the park is
the number of records of species which are not
normally found in these parts. These are often
vagrants or rare migrants on passage. Some of the
species include Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax
niger , which breeds in Thailand but is seldom
recorded further south; Black-headed Ibis
Threskiornis melanocephalus, an uncommon but
annual visitor to Thailand but otherwise not
recorded in Peninsular Malaysia in recent times;
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus,
a rare visitor to the Peninsula; and White¬
shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis, a regular
wintering migrant in Singapore but very seldom
recorded in Malaysia (this species is believed to
use coastal mangroves on migration, hence the
dearth of records on passage). There are a host of
34
KUALA SELANGOR NATURE PARK
other species, making this site a welcome source
of constant surprise and excitement to the
birdwatcher.
For this reason, the Selangor International Bird
Race is held at KSNP in October each year and
attracts teams from all over the world. Benefiting
from much local amateur participation, this race is
fiercely competitive as well as great fun for all!
In addition to its rich and diverse avifauna, the
park is destined for greater acclaim. In
collaboration with the National Zoo, a project is
being initiated for the re-introduction of the
Milky Stork Mycteria cinerea at Kuala Selangor. A
captive breeding programme at the National Zoo
has been breeding both Milky and Storm's Storks
Ciconia stormi for many years. KSNP will
hopefully be an ideal site for a programme to
gradually establish a wild breeding population of
Milky Storks. The only known breeding
population of this species in Malaysia is in the
Matang Forest Reserve and this population has
been steadily declining in numbers. An aviary is
being built to house the captive-raised storks,
which would be released gradually into the park
under close monitoring. Plans are being drawn up
for the erection of artificial nesting platforms
within the mangroves to encourage the storks to
start breeding. If successful, this venture would
become a star attraction for the park.
KSNP caters for more than birdwatching. With
a total distance of 5,114 m, six well-maintained
and sign-posted trails meander through the park.
These allow visitors to explore different habitats,
cross rope bridges and
traverse a boardwalk. The
boardwalk extends 500 m
through the mangroves to
an observation hide
overlooking the tidal
mudflats which, at low
tide, extend for 2 km out to
the Straits of Malacca. This
boardwalk gives one the
unique opportunity to
observe a mangrove forest
in its natural state. Nature
guides are on hand to
explain the zonation found
within the mangroves and
visitors are able to watch
the tide creep into the
mangroves while the
mudskippers and fiddler
crabs go about their daily lives and a host of
shorebirds feed on the extensive mudflats.
Added to all this is the presence of an animal
which is guaranteed to charm visitors. The nature
park supports two species of otters: the Smooth-
coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata and the
Oriental Small-clawed Otter Amblonyx cinerea.
The Smooth Otter is the largest of the oriental
otters and is commonly seen in the park. They live
in families of up to nine and are a hit with the
kids. The smaller Oriental Small-clawed Otter is
also common within the park but is less often
seen, keeping to the dense mangrove forests. They
too travel in families of up to 12 animals.
Mammals that can be seen within the park at
night include the Leopard Cat Felis bengalensis,
Malay Pangolin Manis javanica, Common Palm
Civet Paradoxurus hermaphrodilus and Small¬
toothed Palm Civet Arctogalidia trivirgata. During
the day, the most prominent of the park's
denizens are the Silvered Leaf Monkeys and
Crab-eating Macaques Macaca fascicularis.
In years to come, more nature parks like KSNP
are expected to be set up, a reflection of the
increasing awareness among Malaysians of the
sheer richness and diversity of their country's
wildlife and, more importantly, the urgent need
to ensure its continued existence.
Tony Sebastian, 43 USJ9/3C, Subang Java 47620
Petaling, Selangor, Malaysia
Figure 1: Kuala Selangor National Park (John Bransbury).
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
35
Birdwatching areas
Panti Forest Reserve, Johor, Malaysia
The forests of southern Johor are not on the itinerary of most visitors to Malaysia. In this article Lim
Kim Seng shares with us the delights of Panti Forest, which is a popular site for Singaporean birders
as it offers excellent birding at the southern tip of the Peninsula.
Panti Forest Reserve covers some 275 km2 and is
located at the headwaters of the Johor, Linggiu
and Ulu Sedili rivers, 20 km north of the town of
Kota Tinggi in southern Johor (Figure 1). It is
mainly lowland dipterocarp forest with hill forest
located on two peaks of over 600 m, Gunung
Muntahak (634 m) and Gunung Sumalayang (615
m). Montane ericaceous forest is found on the
western summit of a third mountain, the curious
flat-topped Gunung Panti (654 m). Peat-swamps
are also to be found in the low-lying areas, and the
rivers frequently overflow during the monsoon
months (November to February).
Unfortunately, Panti Forest Reserve is a reserve
only in name, and large parts of it have been
logged since the early seventies so that the only
primary habitats now left are the more
inaccessible forests in the foothills of the three
mountains. Commercial logging has since ceased,
but sand quarrying and clearance of the reserve
land for oil palms and cultivation is threatening to
swallow up Panti unless the state government
reviews its management plans for the reserve and
enforces protection for the area.
As may be expected from its current status,
there are no visitor facilities in the reserve and
visitors have to camp if they want to stay more
than a day. Alternatively, there is inexpensive
(M$50 per room) chalet accommodation at the
nearby Kota Tinggi (Muntahak) Waterfalls, a
popular picnic area, and cheap (M$40 per room)
hotels in Kota Tinggi town itself.
Access to Panti is via Kota Tinggi, which is 41
km north of the Johor causeway, making it a very
accessible and popular birding location for
Singapore birdwatchers. After Kota Tinggi, you
may take the north-western road to the
(Lombong) Waterfall, 20 km distant, to the
western parts of the reserve or the main northern
trunk road leading to Mersing in the reserve's
eastern half. There are buses departing daily for
the waterfall road and Mersing from the bus
Figure 1 . Map of Panti area , Johor
station at Kota Tinggi, but you need to have your
own vehicle if you have only a day or so to spare.
Over 250 bird species have been recorded at
Panti, including many Sunda endemics and five
globally threatened species - Wallace's Hawk-
Eagle Spisaetus nanus , Chestnut-necklaced
Partridge Arborophila charltonii, Short-toed Coucal
Centropus rectunguis , and Wrinkled Aceros
corrugatus and Helmeted Hornbills Buceros vigil.
Panti' s mammals are also impressive, in spite
of its disturbed state. About a dozen Asian
Elephants Elephas maximus still roam the reserve
and the Tiger Panther a tigris is regularly reported
by the villagers and forest workers. The
endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros Dicerorhinus
sumatrensis has not been recorded since fresh
pugmarks were seen in 1981 and is presumably
extinct. Other mammals to look out for include
the Flying Lemur Cyanocephalus variegatus, tree
36
BIRDWATCHING AREAS
shrews. Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang, five other
primate species, Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica,
squirrels. Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus, civets,
deer. Wild Boar Sus scrofa, the extremely shy
Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus and Leopard
Panthera parnds as well as numerous (and as yet
unstudied) bats and rats.
Some of the more interesting accessible trails,
all easily reached from Kota Tinggi, are described
below.
1. Around the foothills
Take the road to the waterfall and look out for a
police station on your right-hand side after about
6 km. Turn into the road beside the station and
drive on till the end, 4 km in. You can park your
vehicle at the village at Batu Empat (get
permission first). Take the trail turning left of the
metalled road, which will take you through
cultivation, old rubber plantations and scrub for
2 km. Look out for rural species like the Rufous
Celeus brachyurus and Laced Woodpeckers Picus
vittatus, Common Flameback Dinopiumjavanen.se,
Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus,
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis and
Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala grisola. Towards
the end of the rubber plantations you will see the
flat-topped ridge of Gunung Panti to the north.
This is where the foothill trail and logged forest
begins.
The transition from plantation to forest is
indistinct and some forest species are also seen in
unkempt rubber trees. Black-and-Red Broadbills
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos and Black Magpies
Platysmurus leucopterus are frequently seen in
these situations, as is the unfamiliar sight of
Common Flamebacks sharing the same tree as
Rufous Piculets Sasia abnormis, Buff-rumped
Woodpeckers Meiglyptes tristis and the beautiful
arboreal Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel Ratufa
af finis.
The foothills of Gunung Panti were cleared in
1991 and this has altered the bird population
there. Most affected are the understorey species,
especially trogons which are now rarely seen. A
pair of Banded Pittas Pitta guajana which used to
be easily found has disappeared because of the
disturbance. However, the rather open trails
permit easy viewing of raptors, of which there are
13 species on record. Most frequently encountered
are Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis,
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela,
Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spisaetus cirrhatus and
Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius.
Also regularly seen are up to four species of
hornbills, the commonest being Rhinoceros
Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros, which can be seen
flying noisily over or high up on a fruiting fig.
Flocks of up to eight Black Hornbills Anthracoceros
malayanus can sometimes be found in the canopy
of the surviving tall trees.
The recent logging has created plenty of new
trails and obscured an old one leading to the
western summit (Panti Timor), so bring along a
compass and do not stray from the main (biggest)
track. The new trails are invaded by many sun-
loving shrubs and two species (both natives of
South America!), Melastoma malabathricum and
Clidemia hirta, produce berries which attract
frugivorous birds to come down to feed at close
proximity to birdwatchers. Yellow-breasted
Prionochilus maculatus, Crimson-breasted P.
percussus, Yellow-vented Dicaeum chrysorrheum
and Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers D.
trigonostigma are frequent visitors. Also attracted
by fruiting shrubs are Little Green-Pigeon Treron
olax, Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis and
Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus.
The dense undergrowth is particularly rich in
babblers. Of the 23 species recorded in the reserve,
Ferruginous Trichastoma bicolor, Chestnut-
rumped Stachyris maculata, Grey-headed S.
poliocephala and Chestnut-winged Babblers S.
erythroptera are the most common. The drab,
frugivorous Brown Fulvetta Alcippe brunneicauda
is rare but can be found during the fruiting
season. All babblers are inveterate skulkers and a
good knowledge of their calls is an essential
identification tool.
The trails also attract many mammals. Wild
Boar, Barking Deer Muntiacus muntjak and Lesser
Mousedeer Tragulus javanicus are common. Herds
of feral Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis also roam
the wider trails and can be intimidating if bumped
into. Villagers living at the plantations report tiger
sightings from time to time and tracks indicate
that it is not uncommon.
Climbing to the summit takes about three hours
and goes through some exciting ridge and peat
swamp forest before entering montane forest near
the summit at 600 m. This montane forest is the
lowest in Peninsular Malaysia and, though it has
no truly montane birds, it does harbour some
endemic plants. As the original trail has been
obliterated by recent logging, take along a guide
from the village at Batu Empat. The climb can be
done in one day.
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
37
2. The Ridge Trail
This and the next two trails are easily reached by
heading up the road towards Kuantan. The Ridge
Trail is situated at the 270 km mark on your left
hand side. There is space to park three cars about
20 m inside the trail.
The first km of this trail is extremely rich in
birds and birding there often brings the
unexpected. Bird waves are commoner than
elsewhere in the reserve and typically comprise
20-25 species.
Both the Crestless Fireback Lophura
erythrophthalma and Crested Partridge Rollulus
rouloul have been seen near the 'car park'. The
spectacular but shy Great Argus Argusianus argus
used to be common on this trail, but has become
scarce, probably because of illegal trapping. Other
birds which are frequently seen in the 'car park'
area include Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella,
Red-naped Harpactes kasumba, Diard's H. diardii,
Cinnamon-rumped H. orrhophaeus and Scarlet-
rumped Trogons H. duvaucelii, Chestnut¬
breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaens curvirostris,
Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulver-
ulentus, Banded Eurylaimus javanicus and Black-
and-yellow Broadbills E. ochromalus, and the
ubiquitous Hairy-backed Tricholestes criniger and
Buff-vented Bulbuls lole olivacea. Also frequent
there is a flock of up to twelve Bushy-crested
Hornbills Anorrhinus galeritus, more often heard
than seen, as they forage high up in the trees.
The trail goes downhill after about 1 km and
situated there is a massive strangling fig which
attracts a host of birds, particularly frugivorous,
when fruiting. Regulars include Wreathed
Diard's Trogon Harpactes diardii by Richard Grimmett
Hornbill Aceros undulatus, Cinnamon-headed
Green-Pigeon Treron fulvicollis, White-bellied
Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis, Red-crowned
Megalaima rafflesi, Yellow-crowned M. henricii,
and Blue-eared Barbets M. australis , Blue-
rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus, Blue-crowned
Hanging-Parrot Loriculus galgulus, Red-bearded
Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus, and several bulbuls.
After another 500 m, an old wooden bridge over
a stream marks the beginning of the swamp
forest. This stretch is perennially wet and full of
leeches but noteworthy as the former nest site of
a pair of Blyth's Hawk-Eagles Spisaetus alboniger
and the best place to see the reclusive Wrinkled
Hornbill Aceros corrugatus, as well as the
uncommon Puff-backed Bulbul Pycnonotus
eutilotus, which can usually be detected by its
whimsical trill. Mammals recorded here include
Sun Bear, White-headed Gibbon Hylobates lar
and families of Oriental Small-clawed Otters
Amblonyx cinerea.
The swamp ends after 450 m and from there on
the trail goes up a ridge for about 700 m before
hitting a rocky hill-top. Birds commonly seen
around there include Banded Kingfisher, Red¬
billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus javanicus, White-
bellied Yuhina Yuhina zantholeuca and Purple-
naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum.
Most birdwatchers stop there for a breather before
turning back, as the trail becomes very overgrown
and obscure after this point.
3. The Quarry Trail
The Quarry Trail is situated just after the 269 km
mark, on your left-hand side and just another
kilometre after the Ridge Trail, as you head
towards Mersing. A metalled track takes you west
for a kilometre before swinging north. The forest
is fairly open, enabling good views of both
canopy and understorey species.
This track is famous as the only site in South
Johor for Wallace's Hawk-Eagle Spisaetus nanus.
The much sought-after Bat Hawk Macheiramphus
alcinus has also been seen there once. Canopy
species commonly seen there include both Scarlet
Pericrocotus flammeus and Fiery Minivets P.
ignedus , Lesser Cuckooshrike Coracina fimbriata,
Black-winged Hemipus hirundinaceus and Bar¬
winged Flycatcher-shrikes H. picatus, Green Iora
Aegithina viridissima and Scarlet or Temminck's
Sunbird Aethopyga temminckii. The enigmatic
Black-and-White Bulbul Pycnonotus melanoleucos
has also been recorded with regularity there.
38
BIRDWATCHING AREAS
Scarlet-rumped Trogon is the most common
mid-storey species, while forest floors are good
for Garnet Pitta Pitta granatina , Black-capped
Babbler Pellorneum capistratum, which has a
trademark rising whistle, and the long-necked
Malaysian Rail-babbler Eupetes macrocerus. In
winter months, Eyebrowed Turdus obscurus and
Siberian Thrushes Zoothera sibirica, and Siberian
Blue Robin Luscinia cyane can be found feeding
on the trail, while exposed perches are good
places to look for migrant passerines, including
Dark-sided Mnscicapa sibirica , Asian Brown M.
daunrica, the striking black-and-yellow Yellow-
rumped Ficedula zanthopygia and, occasionally,
Blue-and-white Flycatchers Cyanoptila cyano-
melana.
You should not venture onto this trail alone as
Elephant, Malayan Tapir, Tiger and Leopard are
not uncommon.
4. The Bunker Trail
This trail is located just after the 266 km mark and
is distinguished by two World War II bunkers on
either side of the road before you turn left onto it.
This is an active and wide mud track used by
lorries transporting sand from quarries deep
inside the reserve. Traffic can be heavy on
weekdays, so plan your visits for the weekend
and public holidays.
The wide track extends several kilometres into
the foothills of Gunung Muntahak and is
bordered by secondary and swamp forest. Birds
flying over or in the high canopy are easiest to see,
among them all the eight hornbill species
recorded at Panti including the Helmeted Buceros
vigil and White-crowned Hornbills Aceros
comatus, the latter a recent addition to the Panti
list and the southernmost Peninsular Malaysian
record. The high canopy is frequented by
leafbirds, ioras, sunbirds and spiderhunters. Mid¬
storey levels should be checked and occasionally
yield interesting finds like the scarce Olive-
backed Woodpecker Dinopium rafflesii, the
atypical Brown Barbet Calorhamphus fuliginosus,
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis and flocks
of the sociable and noisy Dusky Broadbill
Corydon sumatranus.
The logging track crosses several swamps and
these should be checked for migrants in winter
which might include Black Ixobrychus flavicollis
and Schrenck's Bitterns I. eurhythmus and the
odd wintering Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea.
Chestnut-naped Enicurns ruficapillus and White-
crowned Forktails E. leschenaultii are sympatric
and should be looked for on the bigger streams.
A dusk or night visit there is also worthwhile.
Near twilight, both Savanna Caprimulgus affinis
and Malaysian Eared-Nightjar Eurostopodus
temminckii can be seen sharing the same airspace.
At night, a number of nocturnal species can be
found. Oriental Bay-Owl Phodilus badius and
Reddish Scops-Owl Otus rufescens are both
common, as are Gould's Batrachostomus stellatus
and Javan Frogmouths B. javensis. The awesome
looking Large Frogmouth B. auritus is rare.
Mammals most frequently met with are the civet
cats, most notably Malay Civet Viverra tangalunga
and Masked Civet Paguma larvata, Leopard Cat
Felis bengalensis and Sunda Pangolin.
Panti is south Johor's most important bird site
and is definitely worth a visit of at least three
days. Much remains to be discovered, especially
deep in the valleys of the interior where no
birdwatchers have ventured. There is also an
urgent need for the authorities to undertake
immediate measures to control illegal logging and
quarrying activities before Panti is degraded
beyond repair. The potential for the development
of ecotourism in this wildlife-rich and botanically
important reserve (Panti has several endemic
plant species) is immense as over a million
Singaporean and Singapore-based tourists visit
Johor each year and some may be lured to Panti
with active promotion.
Lim Kim Seng, 644 Yishum Street 61, 12-300,
Singapore 2776.
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
39
ClubWatch
Malaysian Nature
Society
Founded
1940
Area of concern
Malaysia
Membership
4,000
Address:
P.0. Box 10750,
50724
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
The establishment of the Kuala Selangor Nature Park and the
success of the Endau-Rompin Expedition are two of the greatest
conservation achievements in Malaysia in recent years. Both are
due almost solely to the efforts of the Malaysian (formerly
Malayan) Nature Society, perhaps better known as the MNS, the
oldest non-governmental nature conservation organisation in
South-East Asia.
The MNS's aims are to promote amongst Malaysians an
appreciation of the country's natural heritage, and to this end its
philosophy is to encourage Malaysians to become involved in
nature by means of its extensive programme of activities. These
are initiated both nationally and locally, through branches in
almost every Malaysian state, specialist groups (e.g. reptiles,
birds, photography and caving) and school nature clubs.
Using this network, the MNS organises field trips, courses,
outdoor experiences, exhibitions, talks and seminars, to cater for
a complete range of interests and expertise. It also publishes a
wide range of materials on Malaysian natural history, from
magazines and books for children to the Malayan Nature
Journal, an internationally recognised scientific periodical.
Politically, the MNS has played a key role in several
successful national environmental campaigns, including those
against the Gunung Tahan Road Project and the Penang Hill
Development. It is now regularly consulted on issues of
conservation importance by government and media alike, a
recognition of its standing in Malaysia.
The development of Kuala Selangor Nature Park (see p. 33),
the first NGO-run coastal nature reserve in Asia, has been an
overwhelming achievement. A visit to this protected mangrove
reserve, within an hour's drive of Kuala Lumpur, has become
one of the most popular excursions for the increasing number of
Malaysians eager to learn more about their natural heritage.
However, it is perhaps the MNS's scientific expeditions that
have been its most successful endeavour to date. From 1985-1989
members explored Endau-Rompin, a little known area of
lowland primary forest on the Pahang-Johor state border, and
currently a similar expedition is being carried out in the Ulu
Belum forest area of northern Perak on the Thai border (see OBC
Bulletin 19:14).
The Endau-Rompin expedition enormously increased the
awareness of the area's importance and created a strong lobby
for its protection. Endau-Rompin has already been designated a
State Park by the Johor State Government and is in the process
of being designated one by Pahang, a real testimony to the
effectiveness and success of the MNS. The hope now is that the
same can be achieved for Belum.
40
Join The Malaysian
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OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
41
Recently published
A Birdwatcher's Guide to Malaysia by John
Bransbury, 1993. Waymark Publishing. World
distribution by Natural History Book Service Ltd
(details on back cover). 282 pip., £14(sb) ISBN 0-646-
14559-2.
Malaysia is made up of 13 states in two
landmasses, 11 in the Malay Peninsula and two
(Sabah and Sarawak) in northern Borneo,
comprising a land area of some 330,000 km2.
Situated in the midst of South-East Asia, its
avifauna is mainly Sundaic, but is supplemented
in winter by Palearctic migrants. Over 700 species
have been recorded, including 31 Bornean and
three peninsular endemics.
This book is the first published site guide for
the country and describes 42 sites (26 peninsular)
in detail. For each site, there is a concise summary
of the ornithological and scenic attractions
followed by an annotated checklist which is
divided into habitat types and zones, e.g.
wetlands, forest, mangrove, open areas, canopy,
etc. Rarities have been separated under a different
sub-heading (a useful pointer for first-time birders
in the tropics) and information is listed on good
birdwatching areas at each site, access,
accommodation, when to visit and other
attractions apart from birds. A site map
accompanies each site description. A short
introduction incorporates useful hints on birding
in Malaysia and contact addresses/numbers for
visiting birders, as well as a short list of
references, but very little general information on
the avifauna of the country. At the end of the
book are two very useful checklists of birds and
mammals of Malaysia, probably the first
published lists for the country.
The author has done a marvellous job of
providing a compact book introducing the
uninitiated to birding in the varied habitats of
Malaysia. Site information is well researched, up-
to-date and generally useful. Errors are few, one
notable exception being the mis-statement that
Kenyir Lake is 'two-and-a-half times bigger than
Singapore', which it isn't (Singapore is actually
bigger). The eight pages of colour photographs
feature mainly scenic shots of sites and a whole
range of subjects ranging from Bearded Pig to
pitcher plants. There is only one bird photograph
(of a Great Eiornbill) which appears to be a
captive. One feels that the inclusion of a colour
photographs is an unneeded luxury, the costs
incurred could perhaps have been better utilised
to include additional sites. Line drawings of birds
or black and white pictures of sites would have
been more appropriate.
On the whole, the selection of sites in the book
gives a good representation of Malaysian bird
habitats, although one feels that the 13 states are
not equally covered. For example, Selangor has
14 sites covered (wholly or in part) while the
largest state of Sarawak only has four and Perlis
none. The bird-rich state of Johor is hardly
covered except for Endau-Rompin State Park
which it shares with Pahang. A few deserving
sites have been left out, e.g. Pantai Acheh Forest
Reserve (Penang), Krau Game Reserve (Pahang),
Cape Rachado (Negri Sembilan) and Panti Forest
Reserve (Johor). Hopefully, this oversight can be
rectified in the next edition.
All said, a first-time visitor to the country
equipped with a good field guide and this book
should have no problems getting the most out of
his or her visit.
Lim Kim Seng
Manual to the conservation of Asian Hornbills
edited by P. Poonswad and A. C. Kemp, 1993. Hornbill
Project, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
511pp., 95 colour photographs and numerous line
drawings and maps. US$100 (surface mail included)
from Hornbill Project, Dept, of Microbiology , Faculty
of Science, Mahidol Univ. Rama 6 Road, Bangkok
10400, Thailand. ISBN 974-587-693-3
This work is a comprehensive compilation of the
biology, ecology and conservation of Asia's 31
species of hornbills. The book is packed with
detailed and up-to-date information. It is lavishly
illustrated with nearly 100 excellent colour
photographs, mainly of hornbills, as well as
42
RECENTLY PUBLISHED
pictures of the birds' habitats and other wildlife,
and numerous useful line drawings and maps.
The book is excellently produced and partially
sponsored by the Asia Foundation.
As the editors point out, hornbills have
important roles to play in forest ecology and
conservation. First they are dispersers of seeds
and predators of small animals, and second they
are indicators of forest health. Third, hornbills are,
among birds, obvious 'flagship' species, since
they are among the most spectacular, colourful
and noisy inhabitants of an area. Almost all Asian
hornbills are birds of tropical rainforest, a habitat
which has been severely reduced in Asia, with an
accompanying reduction in hornbill numbers.
The first section of the book consists of general
information on evolution, identification, biology
and ecology of Asian hornbills. Alan Kemp begins
by introducing the birds' conservation and their
habitats. In the following chapter Pilai Poonswad
gives detailed descriptions of how to identify each
of Asia's hornbills, including measurements of
wing, tail, tarsus, bill and weight, and gives useful
line drawings illustrating field characteristics. The
distributions of each species are described and
mapped. Synonyms are also given. Pilai
Poonswad then describes in detail the biology and
ecology of some Asian hornbills, including
breeding and a useful table for all species giving
their breeding seasons. There is an interesting
chapter on the life history of the Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis. The plant community of Khao Yai
National Park, one of the most valuable natural
reserve areas in Thailand, and a preliminary
study on the forest vegetation of Thailand, are
detailed.
Perhaps the most useful section of the book
comprehensively covers field techniques for the
study of hornbills. Studies of habitats, nests,
breeding behaviour, radio-tagging of hornbills,
food, feeding behaviour, field evaluation of insect
prey and descriptions of plant communities are all
detailed. Some of these methods could be applied
to the study of other wildlife.
The third section of the book gives the
Proceedings of the First International Workshop
on the Conservation of Asian Hornbills and their
Habitats, which was held on April 6-10 1992.
There are national reports on hornbills from 12
countries in South and South-East Asia. This
section, which is well illustrated with maps,
consists of an excellent account of the distribution,
status and threats to Asian hornbills todav. The
J
workshop gave birth to the Asian Hornbill
Network which is formed mainly of Asian
nationals, dedicated to the conservation of the
hornbills and their habitats. They have compiled
a list of priorities and set a programme of action
in motion which comprises the final chapter of the
book.
This manual is an invaluable reference source
for anyone with an interest in Asia's hornbills and
their conservation. Pilai Poonswad, Alan Kemp
and the other contributors have done a
remarkable job in compiling such a
comprehensive and up-to-date work.
Carol Inskipp
Wild Malaysia. The wildlife and scenery of
Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah
photographs by Gerald Cubitt, text by Junaidi Payne,
1992. New Holland Ltd in association with the World
Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia. London. 208pp. , 403
colour photos, £ 24.99 (hb). ISBN 1-85368-093-1.
This colourful coffee-table book is packed full of
excellent photos of some of the huge variety of
wildlife that Malaysia has to offer. The
introductory chapter takes the reader through
various aspects of Malaysia including its climate
and geography, variety of habitats, interesting
plant species and an overview of the animal life.
An interesting section entitled 'a walk through the
rainforest' provided a stimulating account of how
it feels to walk in the forest and an interpretation
of some of the many interesting sights, sounds
and smells. Also covered by the introduction are
accounts of the peoples of Malaysia and finally an
outline of some of the wildlife conservation
issues. The book then follows with sections
focusing on Peninsular Malaysia and the two
Bornean states of Sarawak and Sabah, outlining
the important conservation areas within each
accompanied by a wide variety of photographs.
The photographs are the focus of the book: they
provide the reader with an insight into what may
be seen in the different habitats and sites outlined.
For me the most exciting aspect of the book was
to turn a page and be reminded of so many plants
and insects that I had seen in the forest but whose
name or function had previously been a mystery.
This book is excellent stimulus for anvone
J
thinking of visiting Malaysia and equally
stimulating to those who have been and want to
know more.
John Howes
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
43
An audio guide to the birds of South India, Part
1 by P. S. Sivaprasad. Privately produced. One cassette
and accompanying notes, 12 pp., £ 8.50 (supply details
given in Stray Feathers section).
This evocative collection of sound recordings
from southern India, mostly in and around the
Western Ghats, is an important contribution to the
'literature' of the Indian Subcontinent.
From his base in Coimbatore, Sivaprasad has
for many years devoted his spare time to
recording the local birds. Starting 20 years ago
with largely home-made equipment, with which
many tapes in this first collection were made, he
has achieved an admirable result. More than that,
he has shown the way to many better equipped
and more widely travelled sound recordists by
making his work available to the birdwatching
community at large.
With a potential total count for the
subcontinent that is rapidly approaching 1,300
species, the 66 represented here on about 90
minutes of tape may seem hardly enough.
However, no one who has birdwatched in the
region will doubt the usefulness of this cassette.
Each species is announced with English and
scientific names, and the notes give further
information including background species,
locality and date. All the recordings are his own
and the whole project has been undertaken almost
single-handed.
The mix of species included is eclectic, being a
personal collection, part of the charm of which is
in the mixture of the common calls of the
commonest species - Coppersmith Barbet, Grey
Partridge, Red-wattled Lapwing - with the less
usual, such as a duet of Heart-spotted Wood¬
peckers, or the 'burps and murmurs' of Hill Myna,
and a handful of regional endemics including
Nilgiri Laughing-Thrush, Black-and-Orange
Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bulbul and Rufous
Babbler. For my money it is worth it for the
hysterical beauty of the Mottled Wood Owl's call
alone.
This is a technically accomplished tape and
will be of great value to field identification. No
longer will I have any excuse for not correctly
differentiating Crimson-breasted from Crimson-
throated Barbets heard in the forests of the
Western Ghats. Tourists may quibble with some
of the extraneous background noises, and a more
qualified critic than myself has pointed out that
the recording of Greenish Leaf Warbler is of the
race P. t. nitidus, which may be lumped or split
according to taste. But this cassette is undoubtedly
the result of dedicated work by someone whose
concern for his local birds is truly apparent.
Perhaps those who may be inclined to draw
attention to any shortcomings will instead publish
their own recordings of calls and songs so that we
can all learn more in this essential and difficult
field.
P. S. Sivaprasad must be congratulated and I
hope further parts will soon follow. All OBC
members should buy a copy, whether or not they
ever intend to visit south India, because enterprise
such as this deserves the Club's wholehearted
support and encouragement.
Andrew Robertson
MALAYSIA
The wildlife and scenery of
Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah
Plnmxmphsby GERALD CL'BITT
fnrtii.Jl.’N.UIM HAVNE
44
Layang-Layang - Malaysia’s largest
seabird colony
This article presents information from one of Malaysia's most distant territories, where the nation's
largest seabird colony is also sited. In spite of its isolated location there are regular MAS flights,
because of its growing popularity as a destination for divers to its pristine reefs. For those wanting
sun, sea, sand, diving, and a few seabirds, this might be your ideal desert island. . . Colin Poole tells
more.
The Spratly Islands are a collection of over 600
reefs and at least 26 isolated islands scattered
across an area of the South China Sea north-west
of Sabah and Palawan (Figure 1). This area is
judged to be one of the most politically and
militarily sensitive in the world, as the whole or
differing parts of the group are claimed by Brunei,
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Viet
Nam.
Layang-Layang (formerly Swallow Reef),
claimed by Malaysia, is a reef atoll in the south.
An island has been created on the reef as a base
for the Malaysian Navy and this has provided a
home not only for the Navy but also a large
colony of seabirds. Until now the colony had
never been counted, but from photographs of
visitors it was known to contain Brown Noddv
J
Anous stolidus, Great Crested-Tern Sterna bergii,
Sooty Tern S. fuscata and Brown Booby Sula
leucogaster1'2'3.
Figure 1. Map showing the location ofLayang Layang in
the Spratly Islands.
In the last couple of years the sise of this tiny
(1 km x 400 m) man-made island has been
increased by an airstrip, and a small resort has
opened up, primarily to cater for diving tourists,
as Layang-Layang offers some of the most pristine
reefs and best scuba-diving in South-East Asia.
From August 21-23 1994, 1 was fortunate enough
to visit the island, and I was able to do a full
census of the colony for the first time. The
following seabirds were present in the colony:
Brown Noddy 2,000, Great Crested-Tern 2,000,
Sooty Tern 800, Brown Booby 50, Masked Booby
Sula dactylatra 1 and Black-naped Tern Sterna
sumatrana 8. The Masked Booby was paired to a
Brown Booby. Three White-tailed Tropicbirds
Phaethon lepturus were also present around the
island, but with no evidence of breeding.
The colony is restricted to a small area in the
west of the island, so direct disturbance from the
resort and Navy is limited. But the resort is
currently being vastly expanded, and by next year
will have increased in sise from 17 to 75 rooms,
aimed primarily at Japanese diving tourists.
Hopefully if simple measures are taken to keep
tourists out of the colony, this shouldn't affect the
birds too much. Unfortunately, however, rats
have been introduced onto the island and this has
to be the biggest threat facing the colony.
The island's location means that it attracts
wayward migrants, and other birds present
during my two days were Greater Sand Plover
Charadrius leschenaultii 2, Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus 1, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 3,
Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos 2, Ruddy
Turnstone Arenaria interpres 4, Rufous-necked
Stint Calidris ruficollis 1, Barn Swallow Hirundo
rustica 12, and Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1.
The island has very little vegetation but there is a
collection of small trees and other low vegetation
around the Navy base which will presumably
attract passerines in the right seasons.
I
)
2
5
Seabirds ofLayang-Layang
1: Masked Booby Sula
dactylatra (Photo: Colin
Poole). 2: Brown Booby Sula
leucogaster (Photo: Colin
Poole). 3: Nesting Brown
Noddies Anous stolidus
(Photo: Colin Poole). 4:
Nesting Brown Noddy (Photo:
Colin Poole). 5: Black-naped
Tern Sterna sumatrana
(Photo: Morten Strange/Flying
Colours Photography).
46
FEATURE: LA YANG-LA YANG
The seabirds of the rest of the Spratlys are little
studied, but colonies are at least known to exist on
islands claimed by China, the Philippines and
Viet Nam, and in addition to the above species,
are known to also support breeding Red-footed
Booby Sula sula. Currently, however,
Layang-Layang is the only island anywhere in the
group open to tourists, although it is reported that
the Philippines are planning a similar operation
on one of 'their' islands. Conservation proposals
concerning the Layang-Layang colony are being
forwarded to the relevant authorities, and it is
hoped the future of Malaysia's largest seabird
colony can be secured.
Access to Layang-Layang is by an hour-and-a-
quarter Malaysian Airlines charter flight from
Kota Kinabalu (KK), Sabah. Flights are currently
four times a week and are planned to be increased
to daily by next season, but must probably be
booked in conjunction with a stay at the resort,
which provides full board. This can be booked via
travel agents in Kuala Lumpur or KK, but
unfortunately is not cheap, as it is aimed
primarily at scuba-divers. The resort is open only
from March to September, outside the monsoon
season, but then the birds are also present only
during these months.
References
1. Haile, N. S. (1964) Notes on birds on Spratly Island,
Amboyne Cay and Swallow Reef. Sabah Soc. J. 11:
135-137.
2. Normaly, M. and Normaly, G. (1985) Layang-layang,
island paradise for seabirds. Nature Malay siana. 10:
14-23.
3. Wells, D. R. (1991 ) Status and conservation of seabirds
breeding in Malaysian waters. Pp. 213-223 in: J. P.
Croxall ed. Status and conservation of the world's
seabirds: a supplement. Cambridge, U.K.:
International Council for Bird Preservation (Techn.
Pubn. 11).
Colin Poole, 10 Russet Close, Hersham, Surrey,
KT12 4QJ, U.K.
FLYING COLOURS PHOTOGRAPHY
Documentation of Oriental birds in their natural habitat since 1986.
Our speciality is photographs and texts on birds and bird-watching
locations in South-East Asia.
Main contributor to A photographic guide to the birds of Peninsular
Malaysia and Singapore , Sun Tree Publishing, 1993.
Described in OBC Bulletin 18 "... simply the best introduction and
background to birds and birding in the region yet produced".
For details please contact
MORTEN STRANGE
Engskowej 50, 8541 Skodstrup, Denmark
Tel/Fax: (45) 8699 3242/(45) 8699 3277
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
47
Wedge-tailed Pigeon Treron sphenura
in Malaysia
There is a distinctive endemic race of Wedge-tailed Pigeon in Peninsular Malaysia, but even there
it is apparently locally distributed and probably the least known of the Peninsula's seven Treron.
In this article Allen Jeyarajasingam describes and shows with stunning photographs his
observations of a nesting pair of the species.
The Wedge-tailed Pigeon Treron sphenura ranges
from the western Himalayas to South-East Asia
and the Sundas. Several races occur at high
altitudes throughout this range. Despite having a
wide distribution it is common in some parts of its
range but apparently scarce in other parts. In
India it has been recorded as a common summer
visitor to the Himalayan hill stations1. In
Thailand, it is the most common Treron pigeon at
higher altitudes2. In Sumatra and Java3, it has been
reported as locally common between 1,400 and
3,000 m.
The race occurring in Peninsular Malaysia is T.
s. robinsoni , and among the seven species of Treron
found there it is perhaps the least observed and
studied. The peninsular race is resident,
inhabiting hill dipterocarp and montane forests
from 769 to 1,692 m4. Its local distribution is
restricted to the Larut Hills, the Main Range and
Gunung Tahan4. It is a moderate-sized bird
measuring 33 cm. The male is yellowish green on
the head and underparts, while the upperparts
are darker olive green with a greyish tinge on the
mantle. It has a small maroon patch restricted to
the scapulars only (more extensive in other races
of Wedge-tailed Pigeon). It lacks the orange wash
on the breast which is characteristic in most races.
The bill, which is purplish mauve with a horn-
coloured tip, is weaker than those of its larger
congeners. The female can be distinguished by the
lack of both the maroon scapular patch and the
greyish tinge on the mantle.
Very little is known about the habits and
breeding behaviour of this pigeon in Peninsular
Malaysia. Like all Treron it is gregarious. It
frequents the canopy and may be seen sitting
motionlessly on high branches for long periods,
often obscured by the foliage. It is probable that
the rather unobtrusive nature of this bird is partly
the reason why it may have been overlooked.
Early observers had reported it feeding in lofty
trees growing on hill slopes and therefore being
seen rarely5. Like most forest Treron, the Wedge¬
tailed Pigeon is frugivorous, feeding almost
exclusively on figs Ficus sp., which are
widespread in hill and montane forests.
The range of the Wedge-tailed Pigeon in
Peninsular Malaysia overlaps with those of two
other Treron, Thick-billed Pigeon T. curvirostra
and Yellow-vented Pigeon T. seimundi. Two Ficus
trees (species unidentified) which I observed in
fruit at The Gap (Selangor) just below Fraser's Hill
at an altitude of 830 m, over a total of seven days,
contained mainly Thick-billed and Yellow-vented
Pigeons. No Wedge-tailed Pigeons were observed
feeding in these two trees although individuals
were seen sporadically in the area. Both trees bore
medium-sized fruit that were at least 16 mm in
diameter. Since both Thick-billed and Yellow-
vented Pigeons have relatively heavier bills than
Wedge-tailed Pigeon, they are better equipped to
tackle larger figs. It is reasonable to suppose that
the Wedge-tailed Pigeon specialises in feeding on
smaller figs and therefore congregates only in
those Ficus species bearing smaller fruit. Such
trees may be sparsely distributed throughout the
range of this pigeon and hence the bird is seldom
located.
I observed a pair nest-building at Fraser's Hill
(Pahang) on 24 and 25 May 1992 at an altitude of
1,320 m. The nest site was 12 m above the ground
on the bough of an exotic conifer Finns sp. The
nest, when observed from below, was a flimsy
pile of thin twigs. Gathering of the nest material
was done exclusively by the male, while the
female remained in the nest site. This appears to
be a characteristic feature of Treron pigeons (D. R.
Wells, pers. comm. 1992). The male would
descend to lower trees in the vicinity and, using
its bill, snap off small twigs from thin branches,
the whole process sometimes taking a minute or
more. It would then fly up to the bough with the
1
1: Male Wedge-tailed Pigeon at Fraser's Hill, Malaysia
with characteristic tail shape visible (Photo: A.
Jeyarajasingam)
2: First record of Wedge-tailed Pigeon breeding in Malaysia
at Fraser's Hill. Male carrying twig to nest. (Photo: A.
Jeyarajasingam)
3: Male Wedge-tailed Pigeon at Fraser's Hill, Malaysia.
The maroon colour is restricted to the scapulars and is
characteristic of this race. (Photo: A. Jeyarajasingam).
2
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
49
nest on, walk along it to the nest site, and deliver
the twig to the female who would then position it.
During the course of a two-hour observation from
08h00 to lOhOO on 25 May, the male collected six
twigs of different sizes. Often both birds would
leave the incomplete nest for an hour or more to
feed in the forest nearby. Prior to this there has
been no published record of the nesting of this
species in Peninsular Malaysia. Further
observations in this area will undoubtedly shed
more light on the breeding biology and other
behaviours of this elusive bird.
References
1. Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1983) Handbook of the birds of
India and Pakistan. Compact Edition. Bombay:
Oxford University Press.
2. Boonsong Lekagul and Round, P D. (1991) A guide to
the birds of Thailand. Bangkok: Satha Karn Bhaet.
3. MacKinnon, J. and Phillipps, K. (1993) Afield guide to
the birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
4. Medway, Lord and Wells, D. R. (1976) The birds of the
Malay Peninsula, 5. London and Kuala Lumpur:
H. F. and G. Witherby in association with Pernibut
University, Malaysia.
5. Robinson, H. C. (1928) The birds of the Malay Peninsula,
2. London: H.F.and G. Witherby.
Allen Jeyarajasingam, Boys' Division, The
Royal Military College, Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.
To the editor
Some comments on the ‘revival’ of
Sultanpur Lake
Under the title 'Sultanpur Lake revived' (Bull.
OBC 19: 15) described how a heavy monsoon in
1993, added to the provision of tube wells, has
improved conditions for birds at Sultanpur Lake.
This reserve is a popular birdwatching site about
an hour's drive south of Delhi. As an antidote to
excess enthusiasm for the present state of affairs
at Sultanpur, I would like to give some historical
perspective on the present conditions of the lake
and on potential lessons to be drawn for
conservation.
I first visited Sultanpur Take' in 1970, and have
visited it many times since, most recently in
January 1994. In 1970, there was not one, but
several shallow 'jheels' in the vicinity of Sultanpur.
Such jheels were once a common feature of the
countryside around Delhi. They were shallow
depressions in sandy terrain which filled to a
varying extent after the monsoon and then
persisted for varying lengths of time before
largely or completely drying out in the summer.
Being without external drainage, they were saline,
the degree of salinity varying with rainfall and
local conditions.
With increasing pressure on land for
agriculture and the use of tube-well water to
desalinate previously uncultivable land, the jheels
became attractive for drainage. The creation of the
bird sanctuary at Sultanpur was a classic
conservation compromise, with only one -of
several jheels being set aside for protection. The
last of those remaining outside the reserve was
drained within the last few years.
Once the reserve was created, the land came
under the control of the Haryana State Forest
Department which proceeded to manage the area
according to their ideas of what would attract the
most birds. Trees were planted, dykes and sluices
were erected and latterly tube wells have been
sunk. The result of this activity has been to
convert a seasonal saline wetland into a perennial
fresh one. There has been a corresponding
alteration in the avifauna, with a reduction in use
by flamingos Phoenicopterus and an increase in
pelicans Pelecanus. Use of the area by ducks has
switched from mainly roosting, towards use for
feeding. Cormorants Phalacrocorax and egrets use
the trees for breeding (egrets used to breed in one
of the other jheels, but that colony was abandoned
after drainage). On the other hand, the long grass
50
TO THE EDITOR
that extends right to the water precludes the use
of the water for drinking by sandgrouse Pterocles
and the large flights seen formerly no longer
appear. Shorebirds of open shorelines (e.g.
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii ) have been
replaced by those of wet meadows (e.g. Green
Sandpiper Tringa ochropus).
The change in the nature of Sultanpur jheel
may, as Colin Poole suggests, be regarded as a
success. I suspect that the average birder can
obtain a longer list today than was possible in
1970. However, we should also recognise that
what has been created is an entirely artificial
ecosystem; a sort of ornamental bird garden
which is well on the way to duplicating Bharatpur
(another artificial ecosystem) on a smaller scale.
What has been lost is any trace of the original
ecosystem. Birds have been gained, history has
been lost. Whether the preservation of the original
jheel ecosystem was ever a possibility, given the
changes in agricultural practices on surrounding
land, is impossible to know. At any event, we
need to recognise the potential contradiction
between managing bird sanctuaries for birds and
managing protected areas to maintain indigenous
ecosystems. Losses of interesting animals and
plants adapted to the pre-existing seasonal
conditions will probably never be known. I think
we should temper our celebrations somewhat
over what has been achieved.
Anthony J. Gaston, Canadian Wildlife Service,
100 Gamelin Blvd., Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A
0H3.
More notes on Rabor’s Wren-Babbler
Napothera rabori
Rabor's Wren-Babbler (also known as Luzon
Wren-Babbler) Napothera rabori is endemic to the
island of Luzon in the Philippines, and is noted as
being rare and very local by Dickinson et aid.
Described as recently as 1960, there appear to
have been no sightings in the field until January
1990, when two birds were found by Frank
Lambert at the Angat watershed in the southern
Sierra Madre. Subsequently, de Roever3 published
the first field notes on the species, based on
observations of a single individual at Quezon
National Park in March 1990. Field observations
remained very rare, however, and the
vocalisations of the species were unknown.
On 23 December 1993 KM and Nigel Redman
were birdwatching at Angat when they noted a
high-pitched, insect-like noise. It was tape-
recorded, but playback of the 'song' resulted only
in fleeting glimpses of a terrestrial brown
passerine. Given the nature of the song it was
thought possible that a Bradypterus warbler was
involved, and NR noted the similarity of the song
to one of the stubtails Urosphena sp., but no
species of stubtail occurs in the Philippines.
On 8 February 1994 KM returned to Angat,
together with SH and a Birdquest tour group. KM
drew attention to the insect-like song, but again
playback resulted merely in fleeting glimpses of
the bird. Bjorn Anderson, a member of the group,
identified the bird as Rabor's Wren-Babbler, due
to its size, general appearance and the presence of
white spots on the wings, but this last feature had
not been noted by other group members and
identification as a Bradypterus was again mooted.
On 24 February, together with Tim Fisher, the
Birdquest group visited Quezon National Park
and, again, the insect-like song was heard.
Playback was attempted once more, and this time
our luck changed. Moving quickly between areas
of cover, the bird responsible for the mystery
vocalisation circled the party for some time and
eventually everyone had good views. It was
unquestionably Rabor's Wren-Babbler. In fleeting
views the most conspicuous field feature was the
extensive white throat, which contrasted with
otherwise rather dark plumage, although the
whitish wingspots were also surprisingly
obvious. For a short while after the group had left
the area, SH attempted to obtain better tape-
recordings of the bird and, in the presence of just
one observer, it proved quite obliging, allowing
some prolonged views, including several of it
actually singing, in a rather upright pose with the
bill pointing upwards, often perched on a low
horizontal bough or fallen log.
On 25 February, in another part of the park, SH
rounded a large boulder and flushed a dark
brown passerine at close range from the forest
floor. His first thought was 'Rabor's' and shortly
afterwards a second bird was seen, which proved
to be a recently fledged juvenile Rabor's Wren-
Babbler. Subsequently, over a period of about 90
minutes, we were able to watch two adults
feeding this begging juvenile. In terms of habitat,
all our observations were in closed-canopy forest:
those at Quezon were all on level ground in the
vicinity of limestone rocks and outcrops, whilst
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
51
those at Angat were on more sloping ground
amongst bamboo and many moss-covered rocks
and boulders.
Based on these experiences, we would like to
offer the following observations. The illustration
of Rabor's Wren-Babbler in duPont2 is fairly
accurate, in both coloration and, rather
surprisingly, shape. The upperparts are a rich
dark brown with a slight rufous tone (perhaps
most pronounced on the tail), the dark fringes to
the feathers being visible as indistinct 'scaling'
only with the best of views. The white spots at the
tips of the wing-coverts are rather conspicuous. A
rather narrow, off-white supercilium extends
backwards from the eye, with pale areas above
the lores and in the centre of the ear-coverts (the
latter formed by fine paler streaks). The large dark
eye is surrounded by a greyish eyering. The throat
and centre of the upper breast are white, with a
thin dark grey malar stripe (ending in a broader
triangle) separating this area from the thin,
somewhat lozenge-shaped, off-white sub-
moustachial. The sides of the upper breast and
lower breast are dark smoky-grey, the flanks dull
buffy-brown, and the centre of the lower breast
and belly and vent off-white. The bill is black, the
legs and feet dark brownish-grey. The juvenile
had a very short-grown tail, but possessed the
conspicuous wing spots and white throat of the
adult. Overall, it was however a slightly warmer
and buffer brown than the adult.
In terms of the shape and 'jizz' of the bird, our
observations were somewhat at variance with de
Roever3. The usual stance was more or less
horizontal, with the rather full and rounded (even
spatulate) tail appearing almost 'stuck-on' at the
rear. The line of the back and tail was disjointed,
with the tail often held at about 30 degrees above
the horizontal. Exceptionally, the tail was cocked
to about 60 degrees (indeed, the whole body
appeared to 'cock'), but despite extensive
observations in a variety of circumstances, it was
never seen to be cocked at 90 degrees in the
manner depicted by de Roever. When seen well,
the tip of the tail of one bird was very heavily
abraded. Notably, the crown was rather low and
the bill long and slender, giving the face a rather
'pinched' expression.
The song was a very thin, high-pitched tee-zee
teeeeee-zeeeee , with the third and fourth notes
higher-pitched, and the fourth rising towards the
end. The whole phrase lasts about two seconds,
and in pitch and quality closely resembles that of
Bornean Stubtail Urosphena whiteheadi. Copies of
the recordings have been deposited in the
National Sound Archive of the British Library. In
terms of its vocalisations, and its overall shape
and 'jizz', Rabor's Wren-Babbler does not
resemble the other members of the genus
Napothera with which I am familiar, and it may be
more appropriate to place it in a different
monospecific genus. In the period December
1993-February 1994 at least three birds were heard
(two of which were seen briefly) at Angat and
four birds were seen and another three heard at
Quezon National Park. Clearly, Rabor's Wren-
Babbler is much commoner than previously
realised, and now that its vocalisations are
known, it is likely to be discovered in new areas.
It is interesting however, that neither Tim Fisher
nor Craig Robson could find any Rabor's Wren-
Babblers at Quezon in March 1994, despite
knowledge of the vocalisations; and the song may
be used only in the immediate period of the
breeding season.
References
1 Dickinson, E. C., Kennedy, R. S. and Parkes, K. C.
(1991) The birds of the Philippines. London: British
Ornithologists' Union (Check-list 12).
2 duPont, J. E. (1971) Philippine birds. Delaware:
Delaware Mus. Nat. Hist.
3 de Roever, J. (1990) Notes on the Luzon Wren-
Babbler. Bull. Oriental Bird Club 12: 33-34.
Simon Harrap, 13 Hempstead Road, Holt,
Norfolk, NR25 6DL, U.K.
Ken Mitchell, 16 Lingfield Drive, Worth,
Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4XQ, U.K.
52
Stray feathers
Birdwatching in the
Philippines
A new trip report by Jon
Hornbuckle, covering a six-
week visit to the Philippines,
has recently been produced. At
73 pages, this is the most
comprehensive report so far
for this country with such
remarkable endemism. But this
is much more than a simple
trip report. In addition to the
obligatory systematic species
list, a daily log and some
useful general information,
there is a 'definitive' guide to
key sites (including some not
visited by Jon Hornbuckle), a
list of all but the commonest
endemics with the best sites
for them (drawn from several
recent trips by various
observers) and a section of site
maps (from other birders'
reports). If you are planning to
visit the Philippines, and you
want to see as many of the
endemics as possible, this
report is virtually essential .
Copies are available from the
OBC Information Officer (see
page 4) price £6.00.
Audio Guide to the Birds of
South India
This new tape by P. S.
Sivaprasad, containing the
voices of 66 species including a
number of southern Indian
endemics, is a valuable and
welcome publication. A full
review of it appears on page
75.
By special arrangement
with the recordist, the tape is
available directly from the
OBC at £8.50 including
postage, and it will also be on
sale at OBC meetings. This
initiative by Sivaprasad is
most welcome and in order to
assist him produce further
tapes, all proceeds will go
directly to him. If you are at all
interested in Indian birds you
should buy a copy of this tape.
Furthermore, please respect
Sivaprasad's copyright and do
not allow your copy to be
copied. He is relying on sales
to fund his future productions.
If you wish to give a copy
away, buy two!
Asian Waterfowl Census -
Five-Year Results
Published and 1995 Dates
Announced
The Asian Waterfowl Census
is an annual event carried out
by volunteer birdwatchers
during the second and third
week of January. The census
was initiated in 1987 in the
Indian Subcontinent and has
now grown to cover 32
countries. The objectives are to
obtain information on and
monitor non-breeding
populations of waterbirds, to
evaluate and monitor the
status and condition of
wetlands, and to promote the
conservation of the region's
wetlands and waterbirds.
The results of the first five
years have recently been
analysed and published as
'Asian Waterfowl Census
1987-91: Distribution and Status
of Asian Waterfowl'. This details
the status and distribution of
all waterbird species recorded
during the census, and
identifies potential
internationally important
wetlands. Copies of the report
are available from AWB
(address below), or IWRB,
Slimbridge, Gloucester GL2
7BX, U.K.
Participants are invited for
the 1995 census. The dates are
from Saturday 7 January to
Sunday 22 January inclusive.
For more information, count
and site forms and a list of
national/ regional
co-ordinators, please contact
Dr Taej Mundkur, AWB, IPT,
Universiti Malaya, 59100 KL,
Malaysia. Tel. 60-3-7572176,
Fax. 60-3-7571225.
A0U/0BC Symposium in
August 1995
The American Ornithologists'
Union has invited OBC to
participate in a symposium
session on tropical ornithology
at its next annual meeting
which will be held during
16-19 August 1995. The
meeting will be hosted by the
Cincinnati Museum of Natural
History, Ohio. The session,
scheduled for 18 August, will
have particular emphasis on
the Oriental Region. The
programme has not yet been
finalised, and speakers are still
invited to submit abstracts of
papers for presentation. If you
would like to present a paper
at this meeting or want further
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
53
information please contact Dr.
Robert Kennedy (USA OBC
Representative) at Cincinnati
Museum of Natural History,
1720 Gilbert Avenue,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1201
USA or, Dave Weaver,
International Meetings Officer
at the Club's address. Further
details about the meeting will
be included in the next
bulletin.
Philippine Birds and South
Pacific Birds on Special
Offer
Members may wish to take
advantage of a special offer on
Philippine Birds and South
Pacific Birds (both by John E.
duPont). The two publications
can be purchased directly from
the Delaware Museum of
Natural History at US$20 each
(includes US$5 for postage and
packing outside the USA)
while payment by credit card
is accepted. For more details
please contact: Susan Tongue,
Administrative Assistant,
Delaware Museum of Natural
History, Box 3937,
Wilmington, DE 19807, U.S.A.,
Tel: 1-302-658-9111, Fax: 1-302-
658-2610.
Welcome return for DBTRS
Many members will have been
disappointed when Dutch
Birding Travel Reports
Services (DBTRS) suspended
their operations at the
beginning of this year.
However, the good news is
that since May DBTRS has
been under new ownership
with Natureschool, who are a
non-profit-making
organisation offering an
environmental education
service to primary and
secondary schools. Among
DBTRS's ambitious plans for
1995 will be the publication of
a newsletter three times a year
providing information on new
reports, requests for birding
companions on foreign trips,
offers of local bird-guides, etc.
In December a new catalogue
will be available, while it
should be noted that reports
can be purchased using most
major currencies including
US$ and UK£.
We wish the new DBTRS
much success, especially as
they have continued being an
OBC Business Supporter.
Request for shrike
photographs
I am about to start the
illustrations for a guide to the
world's shrikes (subfamily
Laniinae) for Helm
Information Ltd/Pica Press. I
need photographs (not
necessarily of the highest
quality) of all non-European
species of Lanius, the eastern
Asian species in particular.
All photos received will be
returned, if requested. Please
send to: Tim Worfolk, 6
Johnsons Road, Bristol, BS5
9AT, U.K. Tel: +44 (0)272
552357.
Hill Myna information
needed
I am writing a book on the Hill
Myna Gracula religiosa , so I am
very interested in any articles
or notes on the species. I am
also interested in any
photographs especially of the
nest (in nature), eggs, and
aberrant plumages. In my
book all collaborators will be
fully acknowledged. Please
send information to: Ivano
Mortaruolo, Presidente,
Associazione Ornitologica
Ternana, Centro Studi
Ornitologici, Casella Postal
198, 05100 Terni, Italia.
India Special Bulletin 1995
The November 1995 issue of
this bulletin will be dedicated
to the Indian Subcontinent. If
you are interested in writing
an article or in supplying
photographs or artwork for
this special issue please contact
the OBC Bulletin Editor at the
Club's U.K. address.
Photographs of Indonesian
birds
The Indonesia office of
BirdLife International are
trying to find slides of
Indonesian birds. If you would
like to help please contact Paul
Jepson: PO Box 310/Boo,
Bogor 16003, Indonesia (Tel/
fax 0251 314361).
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone paradisi by David
Swithenbank
54
Free Press
Compiled by Guy Dutson
This feature aims to publicise papers and reports of interest to members. If anyone has written or
knows of recent publications worthy of inclusion in this feature, please send details to the OBC for
future bulletins.
REGIONAL
The reproductive strategies of edible-nest
swiftlets ( Aerodramus spp.) by P. G. Lee and N.
Kang (Dept. Zoology, National University of
Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore
0511). Bull.B. O. C. 114: 106-113.
Plumage variation and geographical
distribution in the Kalij and Silver Pheasants by
P. J. K. McGowan (Dept Biology, The Open
University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA,
U.K.) and A. L. Panchen. Bull. B. O. C. 114:
113-123. Taxonomic reappraisal of Lophura
leucomelanos and L. nycthemera subspecies based
on museum studies.
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
Birds of ICRISAT campus - part I by M. E.
Peacock Mayura 9: 1-10. This, and many other
articles of interest, are published in Mayura, the
biannual newsletter of the Birdwatcher's Society
of Andhra Pradesh. Details from The Hon
Secretary, 6-3-912/1, Kapadia Lane, Somajiguda,
Hyderabad - 500 482, India.
Nest site selection by cavity-nesting birds on
Melia azedarach L. and management of multiple
use forests by D. N. Pandey (Indian Forest Service,
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Udaipur [South]
Forest Division, Udaipur 313001, India) and D.
Mohan. Journal of the Bombay Natural History
Society 90: 58-61. Maintainance of old Melia trees
would aid ten species of hole-nesting birds.
The Oriental Plover ( Charadrius veredus ): a new
record for Sri Lanka by D. Warakagoda (no address).
Ceylon Bird Club Notes January 1994: 7-8.
A survey of the White-winged (Wood) Duck,
Carina scutulata, in India by H. S. A. Yahya
(Centre of Wildlife and Ornithology, A.M.U., Aligarh,
India). IWRB Threatened Waterfowl Research
Group Newsletter 5: 7-8 with errata in TWRG
Newsletter 6: 15. The Indian population is
estimated at 100 birds.
CHINA
Distribution of the Elliot's Pheasant in Jiangxi
Province, China by S. Ziang-jin (Jiangxi Provincial
Nature Reserve Management Office, West Beijing
Road, Nanchang 330046, China). World Pheasant
Association News 45: 15. Forty-one localities are
mapped in Jiangxi.
INDOCHINA
Observations ornithologiques au Viet Nam en
avril 1992 by J.-F. Voisin (Museum National
d'Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire de Zoologie
(Mammiferes et Oiseaux), 55 rue de Buffon, 75005
Paris, France). L'Oiseau et la Revue Frangaise
d'Ornithologique 63: 226-230. Incidental
observations from a ten-day stay.
Breeding and moult in the Edible-nest Swiftlet
Collocalia fuciphaga germani in Viet Nam by
Nguyen Quang Phach (Oceanographic Institute, Nha
Trang, Khanh Hoa, Viet Nam). Alauda 62: 107-115.
THAILAND
Falcated Teal Anas falcata, a new bird for
Thailand by Iain Robertson. Natural History
Bulletin of the Siam Society 40: 191-192. Several
records of up to 70 birds are documented.
A record of Great Black-headed Gull ( Larus
ichthyaetus ) in Thailand by Peter Morris. Nat.
Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 40: 193-195.
The status of Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi
1987-1989 by A. Gretton et al. (Cosford Hall,
Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 6DR, U.K. ). Bird
Conseiwation International 3: 351-367. Less than
30 pairs survive at one site with negligible
numbers found elsewhere.
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
55
BORNEO AND PHILIPPINES
Weights of Bornean understorey birds by J. C.
Gaither (Section of Plant Biology , University of
California, Davis, California 95616, U.S.A.). Bull. B.
O. C. 114: 89-90. Masses of 41 species.
Some key sites and significant records of birds
in the Philippines and Sabah by F. R. Lambert
(IUCN SSC, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3
ODL, U.K.). Bird Conserv. Internatn. 3: 281-297.
Incidental records and conservation comments
from eight islands.
Cooperative breeding by Rufous Hornbills on
Mindanao Island, Philippines by M. C. Witmer
(Section of Ecology and Systematics, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA). Auk
110: 933-936.
First record of the Dunlin from the Philippines
by J. Erritzoe (Taps Old Rectory, DK-6070
Christiansfield, Denmark). Bull. B. O. C. 114:
128-129. A 1988 specimen from Luzon.
Birdwatching in the Philippines. Trip report for
Jan-Feb 1994 and definitive guide to key sites by
J. Hornbuckle (30 Hartington Road, Sheffield S7 2LF,
U.K.). The most thorough Philippine trip report
yet (73 photocopied pages); available from the
author.
INDONESIA
Preliminary observation on the breeding
biology of the endemic Sulawesi Red-knobbed
Hornbill ( Rhyticeros cassidix ) by M. F. Kinnaird
and T. G. O'Brien (NYZS/The Wildlife Conservation
Society, 185th and Southern Blvd, Bldg A, Bronx, NY
10460, U.S. A.). Tropical Biodiversity 1:107-112.
Observations from 16 nests.
Status and conservation of Sula Scrubfowl
( Megapodius bernsteinii Schlegel 1866) in
Banggai Islands, Sulawesi by M. Indrawan et al.
(Indonesian Foundation for the Advancement of
Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 103, Depok 16401,
Indonesia). Tropical Biodiversity 1: 113-130.
Although more common than previously
supposed, this species is still threatened.
The status, ecology and conservation of the
forest birds and butterflies of Sumba by M. Jones
et al. (Dept. Biological Sciences, Manchester
Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester
Ml 5GD, U.K.). Expedition report (111 pages),
available from the authors.
Report on an ornithological survey of Taliabu,
Indonesia by P. J. Davidson et al. (Report available
from Tony Stones, 9 Albany Road, Norwich, Norfolk,
NR3 1EE, U.K.). Expedition report (90 pages),
available from the authors.
From the field
Compiled by Craig Robson
These are largely unconfirmed records covering the period from January to mid September 1994. We
urge that if they have not already done so, contributors provide full details to the relevant regional
organisations in due course.
BHUTAN
Two new species for the country were recorded
during February-April: a single male Baer's
Pochard Ay thy a baeri on the Mo Chu (KB /Vent)
and ten Greater Spotted Eagles Aquila clanga
flying north near Tongsa on 28 February along
with another four over Phuntsholing on 21 March
(KB, AP, KB/Vent). Two different male Ward's
Trogons Harpactes wardi were seen and heard
along the Limithang Road at 2,075-2,105 m and a
single Bar-winged Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis
troglodytoides was found in the same area at 2,865
m (KB/Vent). Other noteworthy records during
the period under review included a single male
Blue-fronted Robin Cinclidium frontale at 2,255 m
along the Limithang Road (KB, AP) and a flock of
c. 100 Fire-capped Tits Cephalopyrus flammiceps at
Pele La (KB/Vent).
56
FROM THE FIELD
CAMBODIA
A survey, primarily for large waterbirds, was
carried out during late March and early April by
AWB and the Wildlife Protection Office of the
Cambodian Forestry Department, providing
some much-needed recent information from this
ornithologically little-known country. A large
flock of up to 2,000 Spot-billed Pelicans Pelecanus
philippensis, including some juveniles, was located
at Chunuk Tru near Tonle Sap, perhaps the
largest concentration left in the world. Breeding
was confirmed at a nearby locality. Also of great
importance were records of Milky Stork Mycteria
cinerea, with a single at the Stung Kampong
Smach estuary and a flock of 15 near Boeng Tonle
Sap. Large numbers of Painted Storks M.
leucocephala were found breeding at two colonies
west of Boeng Tonle Sap and Woolly-necked
Storks Ciconia episcopus were seen at scattered
localities in drier parts of the country, with a
maximum flock sise of 23 in Mondul Kiri
province. Small numbers of Greater Adjutants
Leptoptilos dubius were observed at several
localities; Lesser Adjutant L. javanicns was
predictably more widespread but also found in
small numbers. White-rumped Vulture Gyps
bengalensis was reported to be present still in
Mondul Kiri province (MD). Amongst the many
other species recorded, the following were
apparently new for the country: several Rain
Quails Cotnrnix coromandelica heard calling at the
base of Phnom Basset, north of Phnom Penh, on
23 March and near Ph Svay Tani, Takeo province,
on 24 March; two Baillon's Crakes Porzana pusilla
found on sale in Oressey market, Phnom Penh, on
11 April (caught locally); single White-browed
Crakes P. cinerea near Prasat marsh on 16 April
and north of Phnom Penh on 17 April, with others
on sale for food in Phnom Penh (also the first
records for Indochina); a flock of 34 Asian
Dowitchers Limnodromns semipalmatus at Prey
Nup, Stung Kampong Smach estuary on 3 April;
adult and juvenile Common Terns Sterna hirundo
offshore at Kampong Smach; a single Short-toed
Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus along the Phnom
Penh to Kampong Chhanang road on 6 April and
Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra, which was a
common breeding species in Sihanoukville
province and also found at Kampong Speu and
Peam Bang.
CHINA
The most unusual recent report comes from Ba
Bao Shan, Guangdong, where up to seven Varied
Tits Parus varius were seen during 20-22 May
(RM, NB, SC, GK). It had previously been seen at
this locality in October 1993 (RLe et at.). These
appear to be the only Chinese records away from
the north-east. There is no documentation of long¬
distance migration for this species but it is a
common cagebird. Up to four White-necklaced
Partridges Arbor ophila gingica were observed at Ba
Bao Shan, Guangdong, during 21-24 May (RM,
NB, SC, GK), apparently the first records from this
locality. At Wolong Panda Reserve, Sichuan, a
male White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos
leucotos on 6 July and a single Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachus on 11 June (RM, NB, SC, GK)
were both noteworthy. A single Chestnut-winged
Cuckoo Clamator coromandus was taped out near
Baguo temple, Omei Shan, Sichuan on 12 May
(NG). Further north, a pair of Rufous-headed
Robins Luscinia ruficeps were observed carrying
food to unseen young at Jiuzhaigou, north
Sichuan on 6 August (SC, NB), perhaps the first
evidence of breeding for this rare species. Five
Sooty Tits Aegithalos fuliginosus were found at
Dafengding Panda Reserve, south Sichuan, on 10
July (RM, NB, SC, GK). Nearby, a pair of Gold-
fronted Fulvettas Alcippe variegaticeps, one of the
world's poorest-known babblers, were seen well
and a nest containing four eggs found at Huang
Nian Shan (c. 1,590 m), south Sichuan, during 6 to
8 July (RM, NB, SC, GK). Two Streaked Barwings
Actinodura souliei, another poorly known species.
Gold-fronted Fulvetta Alcippe variegaticeps
by Craig Robson
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
57
were observed at Dafengding Panda Reserve
(2,000-2,200 m), south Sichuan, on 9 and 11 July
(RM, NB, SC, GK). A single male Fire-tailed
Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda was found feeding
on rhododendron flowers with Gould's Sunbirds
A. gouldiae near Jieyin Hall, Omei Shan, Sichuan,
on 2 May (NG), well north of its documented
range. A pair of Brown-chested Flycatchers
Rhinomyias brnnneata accompanying four fledged
young were found at Ba Bao Shan, Guangdong,
on 25 May and a juvenile Slaty Bunting
Latoucheornis siemsseni was seen on Omei Shan,
Sichuan, on 15 July (RM, NB, SC, GK), providing
some welcome breeding data for these little-
known species.
HONG KONG
A single Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus at
Kam Tin from 20 February (PA et al.) will be the
first for Hong Kong if accepted, and a single Red
Phalarope Plmlaropus fulicaria at Mai Po on 26-27
April (RL et al.) was the third record. One of
several first winter Mew Gulls Larus canus at Mai
Po in late February showed characters of the
subspecies brachyrhynchus from North America
and could be the first Eurasian record if accepted.
A single calling Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo
Cuculus fugax at Tai Po Kau on 15 April (PR et al.)
was the second for Hong Kong, and an immature
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus at Mai Po on 1-3
May (PH) was the first for 16 years.
INDIA
At Harike Bird Sanctuary, Punjab, at least ten
Rufous-vented Prinias Prinia burnesii were
reported between 9 January and 10 September
(PU). Other interesting sightings at this locality,
made by PU, were as follows: three Bar-tailed
Godwits Limosa lapponica on 3 September; four
Broad-billed Sandpipers Limicola falcinellus on 3
September, with another bird on 10 September;
single Common Ringed Plovers Charadrius
hiaticula on 24 April and 1 May; a maximum of 43
Indian Skimmers Rynchops albicollis up to 20
February; a first winter Mew Gull Larus canus
until 15 January; four Lesser Spotted Eagles
Apuila pomarina between 7 August and 4
September; a single Merlin Falco columbarius on 20
February; single Red-throated Pipits Anthus
cervinus on 20 February and 27 March; and a
single Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberisa aureola
on 1 April. A pair of Tibetan Ground-Jays
Pseudopodoces humilis, seen carrying food at
Pangmar (4,500 m ), Rupshu, Ladakh, on 25 July
(DWh, KW) appear to constitute the first Indian
record away from north Sikkim. A pair of Laggar
Falcons Falco jugger was found near Pang,
Rupshu, Ladakh, during July/ August (DWh,
KW). In Kaziranga National Park, Assam, a single
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath was seen on 13 April
(SM-Birdquest), a single Chinese Bush-Warbler
Bradypterus tacsanowskius seen well on 16
February (R) and ten Yellow Weavers Ploceus
megarhynchus observed on 12 April (SM-
Birdquest). Rarities at Bharatpur so far this year
have included two Red-necked Grebes Podiceps
grisegena and a Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus
hottentottus on 26-29 January (PU) and a male
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea on 27-30
January (PU). A single Brooks's Leaf-Warbler
Phylloscopus subviridis at Bandhavgarh National
Park, Madhya Pradesh, in February (R) was,
perhaps, outside its documented range.
INDONESIA
Ambon
Small groups of munias, believed to be Black¬
headed Munia Lonchura malacca, were observed
in the vicinity of Ambon airport on 12 and 20 July
(SB); there are no previous records from the
island.
Banda Islands
Two Rainbow Bee-eaters Merops ornatus over
Hatta (Rosengain) Island on 21 April, a single
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis in Bandanera
harbour on 20 April, and two Little Pied
Cormorants Phalacrocorax melanoleucos on 21
April, were all new species for the islands (SB).
Halmahera
A recent University of Bristol expedition to the
island produced four previously unrecorded
species (RF et al.): a single Horsfield's Bronze-
Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis on 7 August; a single
Little Curlew Numenius minutus near Sidangoli
on 14 September; four Masked Boobies Sula
dactylatra in Wasile Bay, north-east Halmahera on
1 September and a single Black-faced Cuckoo-
shrike Coracina novaehollandiae on 27 August. The
expedition also recorded some interesting new
altitudinal range data. Chattering Lory Lorius
garrulus was seen from sea level up to 1,040 m but
58
FROM THE FIELD
was commoner above 700 m; Blue-capped Fruit-
Dove Ptilinopus monacha was recorded up to 750
m; Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula
basilica was found occurring down to sea level;
Standard-wing Semioptera wallacii was common in
lowlands and mountains, where many display
sites were located, and Halmahera Cuckoo-
shrike Coracina parvula was observed at 150-900 m
but was commoner above 700 m. Also of note
were records of Little Egret Egretta garzetta and
Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans, two species
recently recorded for the first time on the island.
Java
A Spotted Wood-Owl Strix seloputo in Bogor
Botanical Gardens on 7 August appears to be a
noteworthy record. Records that may represent
easterly range extensions, all seen in central Java
during April or May (ML), were: two or three
Brown-throated Barbets Megalaima corvina at
Guci and Pancoran Tujuh, Gunung Slamat area,
and two at Gonoharjo, Gunung Unguran; two
pairs of Pygmy Tits Psaltria exilis above Pancoran
tujuh on 5 and 7 April and nine at Gonoharjo
(down to 830 m) on 28 April; and three Chestnut-
fronted Shrike-Babblers Pteruthius aenobarbus
near Gonoharjo in April.
Kai Islands
Observations were made here during 24 April to
1 May (SB), resulting in two new records:
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus, seen in small
flocks, near Taman Anggrek forest, Kai Kecil, and
a single Terek Sandpiper Tringa cinerea in north¬
west Little Kai on 25 April. White-tufted
Honeyeater Lichmera scjuamata was common on
the small island of Er, while Lemon-bellied
White-eyes Zosterops chloris were found on Er and
Dranan (near Rumadan). The endemic Pearl-
bellied White-eye Z. grayi and Golden-bellied
White-eye Z. uropygialis were, respectively,
common on Kai Besar and scarce on Tual
(Dullah). An adult Abbott's Booby Papasula
abbotti, seen north of the Kai Islands on 2 May,
was the second Wallacean record.
Kalimantan
Small groups of up to 12 Oriental White-eyes
Zosterops palpebrosus, seen in a suburb of
Pontianak on 28 March (SB), were the first to be
recorded from mainland Kalimantan. Several
Scaly-breasted Munias Lonchura punctulata in the
same area, on 28 March (SB), constitute the third
record for Kalimantan and Borneo.
Lease Islands
A juvenile Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica and
five Mongolian Plovers Charadrius mongolus, both
on Molana on 5 May (SB), were new records.
Manuk
A short visit made by SB on 22 April produced
two new species for the island: several Elegant
Imperial Pigeons Ducula concinna and numerous
Lemon-bellied White-eyes Zosterops chloris.
Seram Laut Islands
A single Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana and
two or three Pacific Swallows Hirundo tahitica
seen on Manawoka, near Amarsekaru on 3 May,
were the first to be recorded from the islands (SB).
Sumba
A visit by ML in June resulted in sightings of the
following species which appear to be new records
for the island: a colony of at least 50 House Swifts
Apus nipalensis south of Mondu, a single
Australian Hobby Falco longipennis near Mondu,
a single Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia at
Kedumbul wetland and ten Tree Martins Hirundo
nigricans along with four Fairy Martins H. ariel at
Malinjak wetland, near Anakalang.
Tayandu Islands
New records for the islands, visited on 23 April
(SB), were: five Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa
lapponica near Yamruh, a single Common
Greenshank Tringa nebularia near Yamruh, a
single Common Sandpiper T. hypoleucos on Ree,
small numbers of Mongolian Plovers Charadrius
mongolus with several Greater Sand Plovers C.
leschenaultii near Yamruh and a single White¬
tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus off Walir. A
single Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
seen near Ree was the first post-war record for the
islands. White-tufted Honeyeater Lichmera
squamata was abundant on Ree and Tayandu.
LAOS
A lengthy survey of the Nakai-Nam Theun
National Biodiversity Conservation Area, central
Laos, sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation
Society (see p. 15), was undertaken from January
to June and resulted in many interesting
observations (TE, RT et al.). A pair of Short-tailed
Scimitar-Babblers Jabouilleia danjoui, a species
previously recorded only from Viet Nam, were
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
59
found east of Nape. Another new babbler for the
country, still to be confirmed, was Spotted Wren-
Babbler Spelaeornis formosus. Other firsts for the
country included a single Greylag Goose Anser
anser on 1 February, a single Purple Cochoa
Cochoa purpurea in February and Fork-tailed
Sunbird Aethopyga christinae. New records for
Central Laos included many Rufous-necked
Hornbills Aceros nipalensis above 1,000 m; eight
different Blyth's Kingfishers Alcedo Hercules;
Yellow-vented Green-Pigeon Treron seimundi;
White-bellied Green-Pigeon T. sieboldii; three
Rufous-bellied Eagles Hieraaetus kienerii; Pied
Falconet Microhierax melanoleucus; Black Stork
Ciconia nigra in February; Blue-naped Pitta Pitta
nipalensis (found in a market); several Pygmy
Blue-Flycatchers Muscicapella hodgsoni; four
Beautiful Nuthatches Sitta formosa (950-1,700 m );
many Yellow-vented Warblers Phylloscopus
cantator; Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus; and Spectacled
Fulvetta Alcippe ruficapilla , probably of the
subspecies danisi, above 1,500 m. A single and two
White-winged Ducks Cairina scutulata were
observed, footprints found and reports received
in other areas. Elsewhere, a population of Green
Peafowl Pavo muticus was located on the southern
edge of Phou Khao Khouay National Biodiversity
Conservation Area, North Laos, in March
(NONC).
NEPAL
Flocks of Mongolian Finches Rhodopechys
mongolica were recorded at Kagbeni (RD), with 20
on 8 March, 25 on 9 March and 50 two weeks
later; there are three previous Nepalese records.
Two interesting species were found in the eastern
part of the country by DWh: three Purple
Cochoas Cochoa purpurea, including two males
singing at Milkedanda (2,100 m) above
Dungesangu on 16-17 May, and a singing Rufous¬
tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda at Ghunza
(3,600 m ) on 10 May, the most easterly record to
date. A single Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis
was seen in Royal Chitwan National Park on 13
March (KW et al.); the species is very rare in
Nepal these days and has not previously been
recorded from the park. Interesting new
altitudinal records, all from Sagarmartha National
Park (TI, Cl), were: Long-legged Buzzard Buteo
rufinus near Phortse (5,000 m) on 21 April, Booted
Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus over Namche Bazar
(4,000 m) on 13 April, White-winged Grosbeaks
Mycerobas carnipes at 4,600 m on 19 and 24 April,
and Little Bunting Emberisa pusilla at Kyangjuma
(3,560 m) on 28 April. These all appear to be the
highest records for the Indian Subcontinent.
PHILIPPINES
A visit to Panay during late August and early
September by FL resulted in some interesting
discoveries. A population of Writhed-billed
Hornbills Aceros waldeni, perhaps the world's
most threatened Hornbill, was found near
Dalagsaan in the Aklan River watershed (c. 600-
950 m). Small flocks of up to four birds were
observed daily during 3-6 September and local
people reported a flock of 50-60 birds. Parties of
up to eight Tarictic Hornbills Penelopides panini,
another seriously threatened species, were
observed in the same area (500-950 m elevation).
The recently discovered and still little-known
Panay Striped-Babbler Stachyris panayensis was
seen only once: two birds in the upper catchment
of the Aklan River, central Panay (c. 950-1,000 m).
Two new species for Panay were also seen during
the period under review: four Purple Needletails
Hirundapus celebensis on Mount Madja-as (c. 600
m) on 2 August (TB, GD) and a single Ruddy¬
breasted Crake Porzana fusca in Sampunong Bolo
Natural Sanctuary on 31 July (TB, GD). A Negros
Bleeding-heart Gallicolumba keayi was seen well at
1,005 m on Mount Canlaon, above Mambucal,
Negros, on 31 March (CR), confirming the
continued existence of this chronically threatened
species. Elsewhere on Negros three new species
were noted for the island (PD, CR): 20-30
Common Black-headed Gulls Earns ridibundus at
Bacolod Port on 30 March, a single Asian Brown
Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica on Mount Canlaon
on 31 March, and two or three Lanceolated
Warblers Locustella lanceolata at Balinsasayao on 6
April. On Mindoro, a male Tufted Duck Ay thy a
fuligula (TF, JH) and a single Baillon's Crake
Porzana pusilla (JH) at Lake Lubao, Sablayan Penal
Colony, on 15 January, along with a least one
Sand Martin Riparia riparia at San Jose in
February (JH), were all the first records for the
island. Several Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii and
two Little Terns S. albifrons seen off Tagbilaran
Port, Bohol, on 15 April (PD, CR) were the first
recorded from the island. Three Black-naped
Terns S. sumatrana off Cebu on 27 July (TB, GD)
were also a new island record. At least 28 Far
60
FROM THE HELD
Eastern Curlews Numenius madagascariensis were
observed at Puerto Princessa, Palawan, on 28
March (PD, CR) and were apparently the first
recorded from the island. A single Dark-sided
Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica at Sitio Siete, South
Cotabato, on 24 March (PD, CR) and Scaly-
breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata, found in
flocks at Pasonanca, Zamboanga, on 11 and 13
August (TB, GD), were both new species for
Mindanao. Fieldwork in the Sulu Islands (TB, GD)
turned up some very interesting new records.
Perhaps most important of all, was the discovery
of Celestial Monarch Hypothymis coelestis on
Tawi-Tawi, with singles observed at Barangay
Buan on 10 and 11 August, the first record for the
Sulu Islands. Other new records for Tawi-Tawi
were: a probable Wandering Whistling-Duck
Dendro.cygna arcuata at Barangay Magsagaw on 8
August; Grey-rumped Swiftlet Collocalia
marginata; three to five Grey-rumped Treeswifts
Hemiprocne longipennis, the second Philippine
record, at Barangay Buan on 10-11 August; two
Common Terns Sterna hirundo on 12 August and
Eurasian Tree-Sparrow Passer montanus, which
was common at Batu Batu. Firsts for Sanga-Sanga
were: three Asian Koels Eudynamys scolopacea on
12 August; Grey-rumped Swiftlet; a single
Philippine Needletail Mearnsia picina, a single
House Swift Apus nipalensis and a single Zebra
Dove Geopelia striata, all on 12 August; three
Common Sandpipers Tringa hypoleucos on 5
August; a single Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus on
6 August; 12 Little Grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis
on 10 August; two Yellow-vented Bulbuls
Pycnonotus goiavier on 10 August and Eurasian
Tree-Sparrow, which was common. New species
for Bongao were: four Zebra Doves on 5 August;
a single Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola on 13
August; a single Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus,
of the resident subspecies ernesti, on 6 August;
two Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica on 5 August;
a single Yellow-vented Bulbul on 5 August and
Eurasian Tree-Sparrow, which was common.
According to park staff, a Philippine Cockatoo
Cacatua haematuropygia was incubating eggs
during early February in Saint Paul Subterranean
National Park, Palawan, considerably earlier than
its previously documented breeding season. A
pair of Luzon Water-Redstarts Rhyacornis bicolor ,
particularly the female, was observed feeding
young in a nest near Bay-yo, Mountain province,
Luzon, on 25 February (JH), a much earlier date
than previous evidence of breeding suggests. The
nest was situated on a rocky bank 1.5 m above a
river and was previously in use in March 1993
(IG). Records of a single Rufous-lored Kingfisher
Todirhamphus zvinchelli (PD) and two Citrine
Canary-Flycatchers Culicicapa helianthea at
Tabunan, Cebu, on 9 April and 28 August
respectively, confirm the continued existence of
these two species on the island. A male Blue¬
breasted Flycatcher Cyornis herioti was seen at
three locations, within the same general area, in
Quezon National Park, Quezon, Luzon, on 19
February (RH), 20 February (JH) and 3 March
(KT).
SINGAPORE
15 Wandering Whistling-Ducks Dendrocygna
arcuata, a species not yet admitted to the
Singapore list but now breeding freely, were
observed at Serangoon (Lorong Halus) on 2 May.
A single Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, found
at the same locality on 2 May, was the second
record for the country. Also of note were: up to
seven Cotton Pygmy-geese Nettapus coro-
mandelianus at Senoko from 29 May to 12 June; ten
Blue-rumped Parrots Psittinus cyanurus, half the
surviving Singapore population, at Chestnut
Avenue on 17 July, and single White-bellied
Woodpeckers Dryocopus javensis at Bukit Timah
on 27 May and at Sime Road from 15 May to 30
July. (All records LKS).
SRI LANKA
A juvenile Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus was
present at Kirinda Kalapuwa, near Yala National
Park, on 24 January (DW), the first for the country
and apparently only the second for the Indian
Subcontinent.
THAILAND
A single White-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula
monileger was seen well at Kaeng Krachan
National Park on 11 April (NP, PnS, PS et al.), a
considerable southward range extension for the
species.
OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
61
VIET NAM
The most exciting news received was of the
discovery of Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti in an
area of forest on limestone in Phong Nha Cultural
and Historical Site, Quang Binh province, central
Annam, with many birds observed during 7-10
July (FL, JE, N). This is the first record of this
species since its discovery in Central Laos over 70
years ago and the first from Viet Nam.
Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti by Craig Robson
A population of the rare and local Vietnamese
Pheasant Lophura hatinhensis was discovered in
the Net River watershed, north Quang Binh
province. North Annam (FL, JE, N); at least eight
birds were observed, and a recently fledged male
caught, during 25 June to 3 July. Two nests of
Blue-rumped Pitta Pitta soror were found in Vu
Quang Nature Reserve, Nghe Tinh province, on 4
and 6 June (FL, JE, N) and Blue Pittas P. cyanea,
seen at Tam Dao, Vinh Phu province, on 22 May
(JE, FL), were the first for east Tonkin. Two Blue¬
winged Pitta P. moluccensis nestlings were
obtained from villagers at Phong Nha Cultural
and Historical Site, Quang Binh province. Central
Annam, on 9 July (JE, FL), a northward range
extension for the species and proof that it breeds
in this region. Small numbers of Sulphur¬
breasted Warblers Phylloscopus ricketti were also
observed at Phong Nha during 7-10 July (JE, FL),
indicating that the species is a resident in central
Annam.
Observations and contributions are from the
following: Asian Wetland Bureau (AWB),
Birdquest, K. Bishop (KB), N. Bostock (NB), S. van
Balen (SB), T. Brooks (TB), S. Cook (SC), P.
Davidson (PD), M. Dioli (MD), R. Drijvers (RD),
G. Dutson (GD), J. Eames (JE), T. Evans (TE), T.
Fisher (TF), R. Fuller (RF), I. Gardner (IG), N.
Gardner (NG), N. Higgins (NH), Hong Kong Bird
Watching Society (PA, PH, RL), R. Hopf (RH), J.
Hornbuckle (JH), C. Inskipp (Cl), T. Inskipp (TI),
G. Kirwan (GK), F. Lambert (FL), R. Leuthwaite
(RLe), Lim Kim Seng (LKS), M. Linsley (ML), S.
Madge (SM), R. Martins (RM), P. Morris (PM),
Nguyen Cu (N), National Office for Nature
Conservation, Laos (NONC), A. Pain (AP), N.
Pomankul (NP), Regulus Tours (R), C. Robson
(CR), P. Round (PR), Pinit Saengkaew (PnS),
Piyanipa Saengkaew (PS), R. Timmins (RT), K.
Turner (KT), P. Undelarid (PU), Victor Emanuel
Nature Tours (Vent), D. Warakagoda (DW), D.
White (DWh), K. White (KW).
Vietnamese Pheasant Lophura hatinhensis
(Photo: Frank Lambert)
Addenda: In Bull. OBC. 19: 41 the figure legend
for localities marked 17 and 18 were transposed:
17 is Simao (or Ssu-mao) and 18 is Wuyan. We
thank Geoff Carey for drawing our attention to
this error.
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63
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64
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OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
65
Cygnus Wildlife
Travel with Cygnus to the Orient
We have fourteen years experience of operating bird tours in Asia, and
our personal knowledge of the Oriental region extends back even
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Tours include:
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OBC BULLETIN NUMBER 20
67
THE BINOCULAR AND TELESCOPE SPECIALISTS
in focus ^agSk
NORFOLK gflSgiy
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Open 7 days 9am - 5.30pm
Tel: 01485 210101
HOW TO FIND US; We are 500 yards east
of the RSPB reserve at Titchwell on the A1 49
between Hunstanton and Brancaster.
in focus
SLIMBRIDGE, W
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST CENTRE,
SUMBRIDGE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 7BT
Open 7 days 9.30am - 4.30pm
Tel: 0374-746472
HOW TO FIND US We are situated within the reserve
with viewing over the Swan Lake Lagoon The centre is
well signposted from the M5 motorway.
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YORKSHIRE
WESTlflGH HOUSE OFFICE ESTATE, DggSSE
WAKEFIELD ROAD, DENBY DALE,
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Open Mon - Sat 9am - 6pm
Tel: 01 484 864729
HOW TO FIND US; We are close by the
railway station at Denby Dale on the A636
near June. 38 & 39 on the Ml .
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EGLETON RESERVE, RUTLAND WATER,
LEICESTERSHIRE, LEI 5 8BT
Open Weekends and Bank Holidays 9.00am - 4.00pm
Tel: 01572 770656
HOW TO FIND US, We are situated on the Egleton
Reserve at Rutland Water. Follow signposts to
Egleton Village on the A6003 to Oakham
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HOW TO FIND US; We are 300 yards from
Piccadilly Underground Station oft the
Haymarket between Charles II Street and Pall Mall
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Please write, fax or phone for our exciting ‘95 brochure celebrating 10 full years of
birdwatching tours: Limosa Holidays, Suffield House, Northrepps, Norfolk NR2^ OLZ.
Tel: (01263) 578143, Fax: (01263) 529251
— Rated “Excellent” by British Birds —
7f W I N G S
Sunbird
The best of bird watching tours
Together offer a comprehensive and
exciting tour of
Malaysia and
Borneo
with Dennis Yong and
Jon Dunn
from 22 February
to 5/15 March.
Just one of our many
birdwatching tours
within the Oriental
region - the largest selection available.
For details of all our worldwide tours,
write to:
WINGS Inc.
P.O. Box 31930
Tucson, Az 85751
USA
Sunbird
P.O. Box 76
Sandy, Bedfordshire
SG19 IDF, UK
Sunbird is a trading name of Conderbury Limited
THE ORIENT
A
timeless land of ancient cultures, golden pagodas, and
wonderful little-known birds. For almost a decade, Victor
Emanuel Nature Tours has conducted birding and natural
history tours in India, Borneo, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan,
Indonesia and Nepal.
Most of our tours to the Orient are led by David
Bishop, an expert on Asian birds and one of our most
popular leaders. David's enthusiasm for the birds of this
region is boundless, his knowledge is impressive, and his
handling of trip logistics is superb.
Last February our India tour group saw 105 species of
birds before lunch! These included such fancy birds as
Coppersmith Barbets, Siberian, Eurasian and Sarus cranes.
Spotted Owlets, Bar-headed and Grey-lag geese, Black¬
necked Storks, Small Minivets, White-breasted, Common
and Black-capped kingfishers.
Our upcoming Borneo tour, July 22-August 4, and
Malay Peninsula tour, August 3-17, will be led by David
Bishop. These tours will visit Taman Negara, Fraser's Hill, ’
Mount Kinabalu and Sepilok. Previous tour participants
have regarded this tour as their finest experience in over a
decade of international birding.
For details on our tours throughout Asia or
information on tours we conduct in North and South
America, Antarctica, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Guinea
or New Zealand, please call or write.
VICTOR
EMANUEL
NATURE
TOURS
♦
POST OFFICE BOX 33008, DEPT. OB, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78764 8 00/338-VENT
•cino/rv walkway . /i/witus (Brer Whitney)
Field Guides Incorporated and BirdlJfe International are pleased to
announce a collaborative trip to VIETNAM, March 2 3 - April 13. 1W3. Conceived
as a fund-raiser for BirdLife International, our three-week itineran commences in
Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Hanoi, All profits will go to BirdLife International.
(With l thai Treesucon and Dave Stejskal; $3-493 from Ho Chi Minh City )
Write, fax. or call for details.
field guides
Global in Nature
For our 1995 catalog of over 80 birding tours worldwide,
please call (512) 327-4953.
P.O. Box 160725— OB. Austin. Texas 78716 ISA. FAX (512) 327-9231
THE BULLETIN OF THE ORIENTAL BIRD CLUB provides a forum for news, notices, recent
publications, expedition results, reviews and preliminary or interim publication of studies on
Oriental birds by contributors from all parts of the world. Publication of interim results in the OBC
Bulletin does not preclude publication of final results as journal papers either by the OBC or
elsewhere. Contributions are considered by the Editor and an Editorial Committee with contributions
accepted subject to editing and refereeing where appropriate. Copies of new journals, books or
reports for mention or reviewing are always welcomed. Contributions or enquiries should be sent to
the Bulletin Editor, Oriental Bird Club, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK.
Guidelines for contributors
Whilst the Editor is always pleased to discuss possible contributions with potential authors, and to advise
on preparation, it would be helpful if the following guidelines could be adhered to:
1 . Articles These should be written clearly, preferably typed, on one side of the page, with all lines double¬
spaced, leaving wide margins, and should be no longer than 2,000 words. Scientific names should appear
at the first mention of each species or, if all species appear in a table, they may be given there instead.
Scientific names should, where possible, follow C. G. Sibley and B. L. Monroe (1990) Distribution and
taxonomy of birds of the world.
Any tables to accompany articles should be prepared on separate pieces of paper, and be thoroughly
checked. Titles of tables should be self-explanatory. Diagrams should be clearly drawn, in ink, ideally
15cm wide and 11cm high. References should be cited in alphabetical order at the end of the paper in the
same style used in this Bulletin.
It would be helpful if two copies of each contribution could be submitted.
2. From the field These should follow the format in the current edition of the OBC Bulletin, and be sent
to the Bulletin Editor, OBC, c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K.
3. News/Information Typed or handwritten contributions should be sent to the Bulletin Editor, OBC,
c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K.
Although every effort is made to retain all articles in their submitted form, the Editorial Committee
reserves the right to make changes that it deems necessary, and, in a minimum of cases, without prior
reference to the author. It is assumed that all contributors submitting material understand and accept
these conditions.
For Around the Orient, Recently Published, Stray Feathers and Free Press, the deadline for submission
of material is 1 March (May Bulletin) and 1 September (November Bulletin). The deadlines do not apply
to main articles which will be published as soon as possible after acceptance by the Editorial Committee.
~1
and the
* tteui aufafely 4&UAtce fat t&e PuiveCtctty (Unde*
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John Bransbury
A BIRD¬
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