For those who plan to do Pulau Burung birdwatching, you should know that this birding location was once celebrated as a migratory hotspot where birds would gather on the island before continuing their journey to Tanjung Tuan. Although the migration patterns have shifted, the island remains a habitat for various bird species.

Pulau Burung, which translates to “Bird Island,” is a 1.5-hectare island adjacent to Pantai Cahaya Negeri in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, and is renowned for its rich birdlife and scenic beauty. Many locals come here to enjoy the nature and also to see the beautiful sunset.

Pulau Burung Birdwatching

The island is part of a sea swamp forest. It is home to mangrove trees such as Api-api Putih (Avecennia alba), Bakau Minyak (Rhizophora apiculata), and Bakau Kurap (Rhizophora mucronata), which provide a natural habitat for birds and other mangrove wildlife.

A two-story observation tower on the island offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, including Pantai Cahaya Negeri and the Straits of Melaka Sea. This tower is an excellent spot for birdwatchers to observe birds in their natural habitat and enjoy the island’s scenic beauty.

A well-maintained walkway connects the mainland to Pulau Burung, facilitating easy access for visitors. This path allows birdwatchers to explore the island’s natural habitat comfortably.

Birds of Pulau Burung

A checklist from eBird recorded 43 birds roosting in the mangroves and its surroundings, which include:

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
• Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
• Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
• White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
• Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
• Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
• Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)
• Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
• Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
• Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
• White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus)
• Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra)
• Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Best Time to Visit Pulau Burung: For optimal birdwatching, plan your visit in the early morning or late afternoon, when birds are most active. Arriving around 7.00 AM would be recommended. Migratory birds are also best seen from October to April.

Facilities at Pulau Burung: The island features a three-storey watchtower for bird observation and panoramic views. There are no washroom facilities around here, only at the main beach area.

How to Go to Pulau Burung: Pulau Burung is connected to the mainland by a 180-meter-long bridge from Pantai Cahaya Negeri, ensuring a seamless transition between the mainland and the island.

Conclusion

Pulau Burung birdwatching is suitable for all types of birders and for those who want to get out of the city and somewhere nearby. This is one of the many places just out of Kuala Lumpur where you can do some easy birding and enjoy the seaside.

The post Pulau Burung Birdwatching first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

The Angsi Bird Race 2024 will occur at Taman Eko Rimba Ulu Bendul in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, from 28 September to 29 September 2024. It will be a historical event as this is the first major birdwatching event in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan.

The Negeri Sembilan Forestry Department organizes this event in collaboration with several NGOs, namely the Natural Ecosystem Sustainability Organization (NEST), the Wild Bird Club of Malaysia (WBCM), the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), and ECOMY.

ANGSI BIRD RACE 2024

For this event, there will be three categories for everyone. The categories are:

1. Open Category – 3 Persons per team (Department/Agency/Invitation and Public) Limited to 30 teams
2. Secondary School Student Category -3 Persons per team (13-17 years old)

How to join the Angsi Bird Race 2024?

1. Google Form – Scan the QR Code in the poster, or fill up this entry form and submit
2. For any inquiries or further information, please contact Ms Norhayati at 06 7659849 or Mr Sulaiman – at 019-6099096

How to Go to the Angsi Bird Race in Negeri Sembilan?

Driving to Taman Eko Rimba Ulu Bendul will take about 1.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur. It is recommended to use Waze or Google Maps to search for Taman Eko Rimba Ulu Bendul and follow directions there. For those not driving, there is no public transport; therefore, you need to hire a car or carpool with someone travelling there.

As for accommodations, there are several homestays along the Kuala Pilah area where a night’s stay is possible. The nearest city is Seremban, which is about a 30-minute drive away and has plenty of hotels, motels, and other accommodation options.

Prizes list for the winners of the Angsi Bird Race 2024

There will be several prizes up for grabs for this birdwatching competition. The prizes are as follows:

1. 1st Place Winner – Open Category (RM 1,000.00), Student Category (RM 600.00)
2. 2nd Place Winner – Open Category (RM 700.00), Student Category (RM 400.00)
3. 3rd Place Winner – Open Category (RM 400.00), Student Category (RM 250.00)
4. Consolation Prizes – Open Category (RM 200.00), Student Category (RM 150.00)

The official poster of the prizes and rules of the competition are displayed below:

Conclusion

Visit our other sections in Birdwatching Asia. We have information about bird races, festivals, and events in Malaysia and worldwide. We also cover reviews of birdwatching locations around Malaysia.

The Negeri Sembilan Forestry Department organizes the Angsi Bird Race 2024. The initial closing date for registering for this event was on 13th September 2024. However, the organizers have decided to extend the registration till the competition date.

Anyone interested in participating in this event can contact the organizers in this article and start making your arrangements for accommodations and transport.

The post Angsi Bird Race 2024 first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

Good news for birders and birdwatchers: The first Negeri Sembilan Bird Race 2024 will be held this coming September at Sungai Menyala, which is most likely at the PD Forest Sungai Menyala near the well-known Tuan Recreational Forest.

Negeri Sembilan Bird Race

Negeri Sembilan is also home to one of Malaysia’s leading birding events, Raptor Watch, which is held yearly at the Tanjung Tuan Recreational Forest, quite near the Negeri Sembilan Bird Race venue at Sungai Menyala.

As there has not been any official announcement made on the exact whereabouts of the bird race will be held, I am guessing that it will take place at the PD Forest Sungai Menyala, which is towards the main Port Dickson area. This forest reserve is also a 24-hectare virgin jungle reserve maintained by the Negeri Sembilan Forestry Department.

For the record, EcoMy and several other government and NGO bodies held a Negeri Sembilan bird expedition in 2016, which was quite a successful event. But since then, there has been no follow-up for a full-scale birding event here until now, in 2024.

PD Forest Sungai Menyala is also known to attract hikers and nature lovers. The venue also hosts several events and functions. This is mainly because of the facilities and open space around the main entrance area, which is why I think the birdwatching event will be held there.

Where is Sungai Menyala in Negeri Sembilan?

Sungai Menyala is on the way to Port Dickson and Tanjung Tuan via the North-South Expressway (NKVE E37) and then the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (SPDH E29). The route takes you through Mambau and Lukut before turning at Si Rusa towards Ladang Sua Betong.

If you use Waze or Google Maps, search for PD Forest Sg Menyala; it should quickly lead you there. This, again, is only if the organisers confirm the venue of the bird race within the next few months. Otherwise, I will update the information here.

Who is the Organiser of the Negeri Sembilan Bird Race?

The Forestry Department of Negeri Sembilan organises the Negeri Sembilan Bird Race and collaborates with NEST, Malaysia Nature Society (MNS), Wild Bird Club Malaysia (WBCM), and EcoMy. For additional information, you can also contact the Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Sembilan via their Facebook Page.

Birdwatching Asia is a specialised bird media company and platform that shares and promotes all birdwatching-related news, events, and information. We are an independent group established in 2018 with a mission to promote birding in Malaysia and around the region.

You can also follow us on our Birdwatching Malaysia Facebook Page, where we share photos, news, and information using that social media platform. Our other active social media platform is BirdwatchingMy on X or Twitter.

Conclusion

There are several bird races in Malaysia happening in 2024. If you would like to know more, we also share information about other birding events around Southeast Asia and worldwide. Some are bird races, while others are bird fairs and festivals.

For those planning to attend the Negeri Sembilan Bird Race 2024, please stay tuned. We will try to get more information from the organisers and share it here. For now, it’s back to birding around Malaysia until this September.

The post Negeri Sembilan Bird Race first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.