The Asian Bird Fair 2023 Program is out, and you can now find out what is happening during this international birding event that is taking place from 13-17 October 2023 in Kota Kinabalu Sabah.

Sabah will host Asia’s largest Avitourism or birdwatching fair that attracts birders, photographers, academics and even the general public interested in birds and conservation.

Asian Bird Fair 2023 Program

There will be an exciting bird photography competition with eye-catching prizes for the bird photographers during the Asian Bird Fair 2023. Educational birdwatching activities will also be available for children pre-event and during the event.

For conservation and ecotourism, professionals and experts in this field will be giving talks during the Asian Bird Fair program in Kota Kinabalu. For the main exhibition, over 30 local and international exhibitors will be at the event, showcasing camera equipment, sport optics, birdwatching tour packages, and many more.

The program has been issued and is confirmed by the organisers, but please note that there could be minor changes, perhaps in the timings and so on. The current ABF2023 program is;

13 October – Friday

• Arrival of guests
• Welcome dinner

14 October – Saturday

• 14 October 2023
  10:00 – Opening Ceremony by Guest of Honour: Datuk Christina Liew
  (Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment, Sabah)
• 10:40 – Keynote Address
  Birding Without Borders Speaker: Noah Strycker (United States)
• 11:30 – PLENARY 1
  Niche Tourism in Sabah: Birding
  Speaker: Noredah Othman – CEO, Sabah Tourism Board
• Noon – Lunch Break
• 13:00 – Forum
  Birds and Children: Hand in Hand
  Let’s hear from youth experts on how birds can be the key to ensuring our future generations adopt nature conservation as a considerable part of their everyday lives.
  Panel Speakers :
  1. Maia Lorlina S. Tanedo – Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
• 14:00 – PLENARY 2
  Bird Tours in Sabah
  Speaker: Charles Ryan – Director, Sticky Rice Travel
• 14:30 – Workshop
  Sony Malaysia
  Speaker: Ahmad Zaki – Bird & Wildlife Photographer, Sony Alpha Guru
• 15:30 – PLENARY 3
  Birds of Australia
  Get to know the birds of our neighbouring continent.
  Speaker: Dr Tonia Cochran – Managing Director, Inala Nature Tours (Australia)
• 16:00 – Forum
  Wildlife Photography
  Learn the “The Way” of wildlife photography.
  Panel Speakers :
  1. Charles Ryan – Professional Wildlife Photographer & Director, Sticky Rice Travel
  2. Alric Goh – Senior Product Specialist, Canon Marketing (Malaysia)
  3. Ahmad Zaki – Bird & Wildlife Photographer, Sony Alpha Guru
  4. Shaiful Baker – Alpha Product Specialist
• 17:00 – End of Day One
• 19:00 – Welcome Dinner @ Kampung Nelayan

15 October – Sunday

• 09:00 – PLENARY 4
  The Future of Birding in Sabah
  What is the future of birding in Sabah? How can we grow the local birding community?
  Speaker: Ron Pudin – President, Sabah Birdwatchers Association
• 09:30 – Forum
  Ecotourism Experts in tourism give their thoughts on ecotourism practices and how birding plays a crucial role in ecotourism.
  Panel Speakers :
  1. Mohit Aggarwal – Asian Ecotourism Network
• 10:30 – PLENARY 5
  “Woodpeckers: Old & New” Featuring Woodpeckers of South East Asia and the Western Hemisphere
  Speaker: Stephen A. Shunk – Professional Naturalist, Author, and Public Speaker (United States)
• 11:00 – Workshop Sticky Rice Travel
  Speaker: Muhammad Salehuddin Jais – Sticky Rice Travel, Senior Specialist Guide
• NOON – PLENARY 6
  Birds of Colombia
  A look at birds outside of Asia.
  Speaker : René Montero – Director, Jaguarundi Travel (Colombia)
• 12:30 – Lunch Break
• 13:30 – Forum
  Conservation
  What can we do to ensure we do not lose another species to extinction?
  Panel Speakers :
  1. Prof. Benoit Goossens – Director, Danau Girang Field Centre
  2. Datuk Dr. John Payne – Executive Director, Borneo Rhino Alliance (BORA)
• 14:30 – Workshop
  Sony Malaysia
  Speaker: Dr Zuhdi – Enthusiast Bird Photographer, Sony Alpha User
• 15:30 – PLENARY 7
  Birds of Korea
• 16:00 – Photography Contest Prize-giving Ceremony
• 17:00 – End of Day One
• 19:00 – Turnover Dinner

16 October – Monday

• Field trip to Kinabalu Park
• Dinner (Shangri-La Rasa Ria)

17 October – Tuesday

• End of event
• Continuation to Borneo Bird Festival in Sandakan

Conclusion

For those interested in participating in the Asian Bird Fair 2023 Program, please visit the official ABF2023 website to sign up for your slot. Currently, there is an early bird sign-up package available. After the early bird promo ends, the rates are back to normal. So, if you are confirmed to go, I recommend you sign up early.