Raptor Census at Tanjung Tuan, Malaysia

The company that I work required us to utilise our previous year carried forward leave before 31st of March. It has being a few years already I use a big portion of my carried forward leave as field trips to participate in conservation of raptors through monitoring.

Raptor comes from a Latin word rapere that means to seize, to grap by force. Raptor is a term use for birds that have good eyesight for accurate judgement of distance for landing and hunting. They also have strong talons, strong curved beak, strong legs for catching, holding food and to tear flesh.

The purpose of research on migrating raptors through monitoring this long term migratory raptor census project is collate information on migratory raptor populations, species, it's flight strategies on weather conditions. Over the years of data information collated will then able to make a better analysis does it's flight patterns behaviour, populations are affected by the environmental factors. The intresting part is others countries who are in the migratory raptors flyway are also doing this type of survey and monitoring. The data collated by each country will then be combine and compile for a better information and knowledge necessary for conservation of raptors and their habitats.

Raptors migratory patterns and it's populations is a good yardstick of the health of our ecosystem environment. A healthy ecosystem is a good indicator availabilities of adequate food source and fresh water for all.

Where is the best site for Raptor migratory monitoring in Malaysia for spring migration?

At present we able to indentify that Tg Tuan or formally known as Cape Rachado.

The meaning of Spring migration.

Spring migration is bird in big population migrate long distance flying north bound in the spring to breed. Food source is the primary motivation for migration. The longer days of the northen hemispher sumner provide extended time for breeding birds to feed their young.

As migration is energy intensive the fly route are normally shaped by geographical, ecological, and even meteorological factors. Flyways normally is along mountain ranges or coastlines this is due the birds could have the advantage of updrafts and other wind patterns. If possible they will avoid large stretches of open water (sea).

What is the Best time to watch the raptors at Tanjung Tuan.

In order to conserve energy to cross the open sea the raptors will use the fly path of Pulau Rupat, Indonesia that is about 38km distance from Tg Tuan. As raptors are large they require thermals to assist them to glide without using much energy to continous flapping their wings, the timeframe windows on a good condusive weather for migration is between 11am till 4pm.

The waiting time for migratory raptors, you could observe the others residence birds and wildlife that residece in that small green lung.

This year the 42 days counting starts from Feb bring a final score of 57,128 raptors fly past Tg Tuan.

Oriental Honey Buzzard- 53,040

Black Baza - 2,818

Chinese Goshawk - 824

Japanese Sparrowhawk - 152

Grey-faced Buzzard - 118

Does the raptors migratory patterns and it's population impacted by the changes on global weather conditions and natural dissaster? If you are a birder based in Malaysia do spare some days as a volunteering basis to assist Raptor Census at Tg Tuan.

Your small contribution and effort will leads us the answers for the above. The census are carry out yearly from Mid February till April.

Raptors watching in Chumphon from 16th October – 25th October 2010 (Part 1)

Where is Chumphon
Chumphon (pronounce as choom-pond) geographical coordinates 10° 30' 0" North, 99° 10' 0" East is located midway of Bangkok and Hatyai.
It is about 463km south from Bangkok. Located in the narrow landbridge linking Malay Peninsular with the mainland of asia, in between of Adaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand. Chumphon’s total land area is 6,009.0 km2 (2,320.1 sq mi). It is a stop-over place for most travelers for island hopping to Koh Tao and those who drive to the south from the north of Thailand.
Due to it’s strategically located in between of mountains range, agricultural is the main source income generator to the people of Chumphon. Majority of the people in Chumphon are involve in plantation eg rubber, palm oil, fruits and coffee. Besides the main occupation in agricultural sector minorities are also in fisheries as it is located near the coastlines. One walk into their morning market in chumphon town would discover fresh products from the sea.




Noticed that Chumphon is famous for princes finger banana. It taste in between of our pisang emas and berangan. The local make varieties of banana fritters for sells at the local products stalls along the road leading to Khao Radar.

Why chumphon is good for raptors watching.
Limited food resources in the winter in northern hemisphere will triggered the birds to do the annually migration. Chumphon is the bottleneck to connect 2 flyways of bird summer migratory route. To conserver energy, raptors migrate during the daytime where they make use of the hot thermals generated during the day to lift them up. We can notice great amount of raptors fly pass Chumphon it is due to during mid September till mid October the south east wind will push them to the coastal area. With the help of wind blow towards the mountain ridge that surround Chumphon they will be then updraft. In the recent raptor count study done from early September till early november by Robert DeCandido with a few birders recorded there are at least 26 raptor species and more than 210,000 individuals heading south towards Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Sulawesi and even the Philippines. Chumphon is a good place for raptor watching and bird migratory study site in Thailand.
How to go to chumphon.
Ever since from January 2006 there are no flights to Pateu that is about 30km from Chumphon town. The nearest airport is in Phuket is about 281km from Chumphon town. Alternatively is to fly to Hatyai (450km away) or Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport about 390km.

Best time for raptor watching
For raptor watching the best time is from mid September till early November. To create migratory birds awareness it is an annual event of MNS selangor branch since 2003 will take 20 MNS members to chumphon for raptor watch. The 1,000+km journey will start from Kuala Lumpur on Friday night either by long journey bus or train to Hatyai. The journey from Hatyai would then continue in the mid-day around noon by stage bus or chartered van to Chumphon. This tedious journey would take at least 24hrs per journey. One would definitely forgotten the long tedious strenuous tiring journey after seeing the vast amount of migratory birds in the fields. Some of my friends do not mind even to drive all the way from Malaysia passing thai border through padang besar overnight at Hatyai. The next morning continue the journey follow the direction to Surat thani drive past trang, patthalung and then follow the signage to Ranong and Bangkok. Mueng Chumphon is in the midway of Hatyai and Bangkok.

Where to stay.
There are numerous affordable hotel accommodation range from 450baht to 1500baht at chumphon town which are within easy access to food and others common facilities such at shopping malls. For those who wish to have holiday mood kind of accommodation beside the beach can head to the coastline Pateu districts about 30mins drive from chumphon town.

Where is the site for raptor watch.
Raptor Watch Site - Nong Yai
My first visit to chumphon was in year 2003, we visited 2 sites then one of it is the King’s Project (Nong Yai). This place is very near to Chumphon town. The best time for watching raptors here is the morning from 6am – 10am and evening 5pm – 6pm where raptors can be easily identify off it’s species with a 10X binocular. In the midday where there is enough thermal the birds are flying very high.


Besides raptors watching due to the surrounding habitat of freshwater wetlands there are others birds worth to look out for.

I had my lifer the Asian Openbill. This colonies is at least 40 individual Asin Openbill perched on this tree.
Besides the flypast raptors our sightings here are
Asian Openbill, Bronze-Winged Jacana, Richard Pipit, Red-Wattled Lapwing, Chinese Pond Heron, Egret, Little Cormorant, White Stork, White-Throated Kingfisher, Black Capped Kingfisher, White-Rumped Munia, Javan Myna

Raptors watching in Chumphon from 16th October – 25th October 2010 (Part 2)

Raptor Watch Site - Khao Radar (radar hill)

This raptor watching site is about 70km away from Chumphon town. Vehicles can drive all the way up to the summit.
Not too far from radar hill there is a highway big rest place. Facilities of toilets, public phones and souvenirs shops are available. There are many local fruits and food stalls there as well . This particular stalls attracted me.

This is the scene during weekends in the peak raptor migratory month (Sept - October) at Radar Hill. DSLR Camera with long lens mounted on tripod are lining up on the ridge waiting to capture images of fly pass raptors. There are also many bird photographers who owned 300mm, 400mm, 200mm lens who prefer hand-held shots as well. The day we were there I notices people from the media also busy shooting documentary of these real life event of migratory raptors
Beside birds dragonfly is also on migratory.

Besides the main focus birds (raptors) we sighted Black-Naped Oriole, Silvered Backed Needletail, Barn Swallow, Pacific Swallow, Little Cormorrant.


Raptor Watch Site - Ban U-Tapao, Tha Yang

This is where they held the annual event of Raptor Watch festival at Chumphon.
Language barrier would not deter one to understand the signage of such and bird to lead one to the site during the Raptor Watch festival.

The needs of conservation start with awareness and education. This is Chukiat explaining to the children with great passion about the existing of raptors. Chumphon is a globally significant raptor site .. Why need to welcome the raptors.. why are they important to human .. what do they need in order for this raptor migratory phenomena continues from generation to generations.
Activities in such will keep the children interested.

The locals, friends from overseas such as Malaysia, Singapore, Filipines , school children participate for this event.
Cultural shows, life band are also one of the itinerary during the festival.
This event would not be complete without being officiated by the local government.
I’m really amazed of the hospitality being extended to all who attended the festival. Besides this hot coffee, mee , drinking water are being sponsor by a businessman and his uncle. Khop Khun Mar Kar.

This is being express out from the children.
We were observing a black kite on migratory.