The raptor migration period is a yearly event which should not be missed. Aida Ahmad sets off on a weekend discovery of nature and all things green

The 10th annual Raptor Watch hosted by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) saw more than 16,000 raptors (birds of prey) fly over Tanjung Tuan in Melaka in a less than one month period. During the two-day Raptor Watch event in March five main species of migratory raptors were spotted passing through Tanjung Tuan. These were the Oriental Honey-Buzzard (Pernis Ptilorhyncus), Black Baza (Aviceda Leuphotes), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Gularis), Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter Soloensis) and the Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur Indicus).

Listed in the Directory of Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Malaysia, Tanjung Tuan, along with 54 other sites across Malaysia, has been identified as a key site for the conservation of biodiversity using birds as important indicators to gauge the health of the environment.

Because raptors exist at the top of the many food chains, their populations are especially sensitive to the alterations of the eco-system structure and energy flow. They are good indicators of the health of the environment and food chain. For example, the decline of the Brahminy Kite (a resident raptor in Malaysia) population in Indonesia is intricately linked to the disappearance of the mangrove habitat.

There was a carnival atmosphere at the PNB Ilham Resort with a host of activities organised by MNS. These included musical performances, forest and mangrove guided tours, talks, games and craft making.

Raptor Watch was first held in 2000 and has become the biggest and most widely attended public event staged by MNS. The main objective of the event is to make Malaysians aware of the spectacular natural phenomenon of thousands of eagles, hawks and buzzards making a stopover at Tanjung Tuan on their journey back home to Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan and India as winter draws to an end.

After a patchy appearance the first day, the raptors came in their hundreds the following day. The blazing sun did not deter those gathered who watched in awe as these amazing predators crossed the azure sky. 

A similar MNS event, the Festival of Wings occurs in October, for more information visit www.mns.org.my