Here is a list of bird watching locations in PJ or Petaling Jaya for anyone interested. Since early 2020, many bird watchers have had a frustrating time as the local Malaysian government imposed the MCO or Movement Control Order which closed all local travel.

Over the last ten months, there have been all kinds of movement controls, namely the RMCO, CMCO and EMCO, which made things worse for many bird watchers. Social media alone was not enough to fuel the habit, and at one period, many took the opportunity to go birding when it was in RMCO.

Since September 2020, the government imposed the CMCO, a conditional movement order, and interstate travel was again not allowed.

Update 2 Jan 2023 – I have a new list of places to be added to this list, which I will do when I am free. Again PJ is a large suburban area with very few birding locations.

Bird Watching Locations in PJ or Petaling Jaya

Most of these birding locations are found at recreational parks or forests maintained by the local councils. They are easily accessible by bike or car and have proper trails ready. However, you should double check if the place you are going to is open, as some of these places may close for the CMCO.

But when the CMCO is lifted, these places will open to the public with selected visiting hours. The list of places below is in no order, and I have personally visited some of them.

1. Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve (KDCF)

One of the newer forest reserves opened in 2008 and is currently highly popular among trail riders and casual hikers. There are many birds to spot here, and even if you do not go inside this 800-acre area of the KDCF, you can hang out by the main pond to spot birds.

I visited the Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve last November 2020, and the place was still closed for the CMCO. I then proceeded towards the main lake area and hung out to see if I could spot birds.

Surprisingly, I spotted six species of common and uncommon birds in the first hour. They included a Coucal, White-collard Kingfisher, Bee-eaters, swiftlets, Peaceful Dove and Pink-necked Pigeon. As a bonus, I saw a raptor flying quickly at the top of the canopy, and it quickly went in.

Overall, there is no complete bird checklist for Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve; hopefully, someone or I will create one. The best time to visit the KDCF is early to late morning and late afternoon to evening.

Update 2023: Some birders have experienced some unpleasantness here because they do not allow cameras or binoculars into this place. There is an entrance fee here, while a special camera permit is required.

2. Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve (Hutan Pendidikan Bukit Gasing)

Located in the Section 5 area of PJ, this is one of the oldest forest reserves in Petaling Jaya, which was once a rubber plantation. There are even remnants of World War Two found here many years ago, and I can vouch for this as I studied at the nearby SMK La Salle School and did my outdoor running here in the 80s.

Generally known as a hiking trail, very few bird watchers are spotted around here, but this could change. I have not been here in years, but judging from what I have read and heard, some common and uncommon birds are to be spotted around this 100-hectare forest reserve.

Some of the birds seen at Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve include spiderhunters, flycatchers, pigeons, doves, mynas and others. The trails are relatively straightforward; the highest point is 160 meters above sea level.

As for the number of birds found here, I am so sorry there is no checklist available. Perhaps I should start by coming here more often. If you know someone who has a list, kindly let me know. Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve is best visited in the mornings and evenings, and you can expect many people over the weekends and public holidays.

This place is popular because the hiking trails at Bukit Gasing are beginner-friendly and can be done in under three hours. So for safety, this place is number one because there are always people around.

3. Penchala Hills (Bukit Penchala)

One of PJ’s lesser-known areas is the Penchala Hills area, just behind Empire City or opposite Mutiara Damansara bordering Taman Tun Dr Ismail. This is also the old Penchala area which has not been developed fully.

There are two areas where you enter from the Taman Tun way. If you go in and turn left where the famous Sambal Hijau Restaurant is, you will head towards the main Penchala Hills area. Note you will reach another traffic light where you can turn right or go straight through the highway underpass.

If you turn right at the main traffic light where the mosque is, that road leads to Kampung Palimbayan and Jalan Palimbayan. It’s a straight road for a few kilometres, and then you can turn back.

I have passed by many times and have heard bird calls, and once, I managed to stop and do some bird watching here. Perhaps one of these days, I will pay another visit to Penchala Hills and do some bird watching here.

Just so you know, this is one of the lesser-known places in Petaling Jaya, and there are no trails available, just quiet roads with foliage and trees growing on both sides. You can just come here to do some drive-by birding.

I only put Penchala Hills down as a PJ location because the old PJ people will know about this quiet and secluded place. This place is also known as Kampung Sungai Penchala or even Bukit Lanjan and is a Malay Reserve Land area.

4. Subang Ria Recreational Park

This is one place that is timeless and dates back to the 70s. Most first-generation Subang people will know of this beautiful lake. Over the years, much has been done around these lakes, and the place still attracts several common to uncommon birds.

However, do not expect many birds as the place is spaced out with commercial buildings. But a visit in the early mornings would be good enough to spot at least five to ten species of birds here.

Again, there is no bird checklist for Subang Ria; hopefully, someone will come out with one eventually. If you have been here to do bird watching, share your experience.

5. Bukit Kiara Federal Park (Taman Rimba Kiara)

Though this park is technically in Kuala Lumpur, it is actually in Taman Tun, bordering Damansara in Petaling Jaya. Therefore I included this place because it is too easy to access from PJ. Please note this is not the Bukit Kiara Park that Mont Kiara is technically connected to.

Bukit Kiara Park is highly popular with mountain bikers and health lovers who frequent this place for weekly hikes or jogging. The place is massive, with many different types of trails available. From the main lake area, some trails lead uphill to other sections of the park.

My last Bukit Kiara birdwatching trip was in 2019 when they had an event related to this, and I spent about 4 to 5 hours exploring the place. I saw bee-eaters, pigeons, mynas, oriole, spiderhunters, glossy starlings, doves and many more.

Overall, I found a bird checklist for Bukit Kiara Park, consisting of 54 birds spotted here. The number could be a little more, but there is no updated checklist, as the last was done in 2016. Perhaps in the coming years, there will be more bird watching at Bukit Kiara Park, contributing to the checklist.

For those driving, car parking is available inside and outside the park. If you come early, head inside and park. There are also facilities like toilets available around the main car park area. However, there are no shops available around here and best to buy your water and snacks before coming here.

The best time to come here is in the mornings when you can easily spend half a day exploring this massive place. Make sure you prepare as there is much trekking and walking here, and watch out for the mountain bikers.

Practice Good Ethics When Visiting Any Of These Places

Remember to practice the best birding ethics when visiting these places for bird watching. Also, note that sometimes people may approach you and ask what you are doing too. But most importantly, always be vigilant and observant wherever you are.

Birding in Malaysia is uncommon; therefore, you will get stares and even police officers asking what you are doing. Always be friendly and truthful; things will work out for the best.

The above are the best locations for bird watching in Petaling Jaya or PJ, and if you know of some other areas, I would appreciate it if you could share them here in the comment form. I also have a Facebook group called Bird Watching Malaysia, where you can post photos or join discussions about birding in Malaysia.

Conclusion

With the Covid19 or Coronavirus pandemic causing a lot of frustration around Malaysia and the world, sometimes I see this as a way for mother nature to heal itself. Few people are allowed to go into forests and parks to let these places recuperate and heal.

And if you are interested in finding out more about birding in Malaysia, I have a special article on bird watching events in Malaysia that you can choose to attend. However, for 2021, you may want to double check if the birding events are still ongoing, postponed or cancelled.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the many birdwatching locations and spots in PJ or Petaling Jaya. And again, if you know of other spots, please share them with me here. Have a great day birding wherever you are. Do sign up for my newsletter if you are into bird watching, and thank you.