For any birders who are active on social media, there is a Bird Watching Malaysia Facebook Group, which is created especially for this hobby. It is also created by David, a Malaysian and for everyone out there.
With the increase of bird watchers in Malaysia, there has been much activity on social media channels due to the birders posting their photos and information online. This has also been an individual matter where they would only post on their personal platform.
Bird Watching Malaysia Facebook Group
This Bird Watching Malaysia Facebook group was set up in November of 2020 when the Covid19 pandemic took the world by storm. Many bird watchers, bird guides and enthusiasts were caught off-guard by the pandemic where many could not go birding and so on.
There are a few birding groups found on Facebook, and most of them are either by the various bird clubs of Malaysia. Why Bird Watching Malaysia is different is because it is an independent group that has no affiliation with any of the bird clubs.
It is a privately operated Facebook group that I manage, David Hogan Jr, who is also a Malaysian, by the way. I have been working in the tourism line for the last 20 years, namely filming and then writing for tourism.
My passion for bird watching started in 2007 when I visited Sabah Borneo and was introduced to this unique hobby and activity. Since then, I have been birding on my travels all over Southeast Asia and around the world.
And as a very casual birder, I never went hardcore like some of my birder friends. This means I never went all out, like going on weekly birding trips or getting a complete bird watching setup with high-end cameras and lenses.
I choose to remain a newbie even though I started bird watching in 2007, and I always took it as a sub-hobby of mine. I have my basic bird watching equipment, and it will just remain basic for a long time.
Why Was This Malaysia Bird Watching Group Created?
The entire objective of setting up this Malaysian bird watching Facebook group was to create a one-stop platform where birders can share their photos and information apart from meeting other like-minded bird watchers.
Because birding can sometimes be selfish, some groups focus on the best bird photography or the best rare birds spotted. Often, beginner questions are left unanswered.
I think that there is no platform available for beginner birders or new bird watchers in Malaysia, which is quite frustrating when you want information. So, by creating this bird watching Facebook page, they can always come in and ask questions.
The group currently has about 80 members from all over Malaysia (dated Feb 2021)) and some of them are professional bird guides from Sabah. If your question is valid, some of them may help you by answering them.
At the end of the day, we all need help in terms of information and so on; even if you are a professional, you still will have questions about a place or bird.
Also, birding is still considered a very niche subject, and by posting on your own personal profile, you will not get as much engagement as posting it on a group where everyone is a birder.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, bird watching in Malaysia has grown in terms of numbers, and more birders are out there. But the reality is that most birders are actually bird photographers, which is a whole difference compared to a bird watcher.
No matter what, bird watchers or photographers still want an outlet to showcase their photos or even want somewhere to ask questions about bird-related subjects. Back in the day, it used to be forums, and nowadays, it is just Facebook or Whatsapp.
So, this Bird Watching Malaysia Facebook group was created to cater to the above, and it is open to all walks of life. Meaning you can be a beginner or professional, and no matter which, you still need information in some way or another.
