Birding Destinations

There are few issues I have to clarified now that I started this page on destination. Areas with strong bird life or those "secret" patches when hard-to-spot birds were seen are sensitive. The laws in the country are vague and enforcement is lax, which resulted in wildlife being exploited and destroyed.

I openly listed here the popular destinations with the intention of helping many birders on their way. There is of course a danger or downside to this revelation. Divulging the whereabouts of these places would bring about rapid deterioration, exploitation and final destruction of such conducive habitats?

As I see it, in the past, the biggest enemy to bird population was purportedly the poachers. Now I can see that it is the government agencies and irresponsible land developers who were the biggest culprits in altering the environment that favors the presence of wild birds. More important, I feel that what I posted up will not lead to the destruction of the places. Likewise, in the write-up when certain crucial details are omitted, it can be assumed as sensitive.

Next for new birders, their priority would be to get numbers. It does not matter what type of birds as long as they get to see birds and collect lifers. As the birders skill progresses and their list topping up, they need to be more selective, beginning the new phase of hunting down down those special birds. So understanding bird life becomes a realistic matter. So for budding birders and visiting season birders, my list becomes pertinent.

Mentioned "birding sites", many would assume "Yes - show me the place where I could see birds, plenty of them!" That's easy just be patience, watch the surroundings where you are staying or the nearest public park, there are lot's of birds

This page, I am writing about birds habitats, places bird watchers who are interested in learning more about birds. We are lucky that in Peninsula Malaysia, we are blessed with a wide variety of habitats and I have sorted out the popular destination in this same format. From the tall mountain peaks to the muddy sea shores, I have made a mention of their importance as birding sites.

Types of birds habitats

A click on the links will take you to specific pages providing the names of locations and some details.

Once more, the whole objective of mentioning the names of places in the link pages is to offer more insight to the great many choices of destinations. The information should boost the confidence of those seeking out new places. These were favored birding spots where locals did their birding plus being places with confirmed sightings of birds specific to these habitats.

I am still visiting these places myself, but I must say that the quality of bird life has deteriorated tremendously since I started in 1998. The status now is that bird life is generally better concentration of birds in these spots. Birds seen immediately would be those common Malaysian birds seen in other habitats as well. Most times a couple, the common residents specific the particular habitat and lastly with bit of luck and plenty of birding skills - the harder to find birds that you made the trip for.

Oh yes, times have changed. It is quite common to see wild birds sharing habitats with humans. As mentioned earlier, if it is "birds" that you want to see, go to the public parks. So a last section on habitats "public park is added.

I have weeded out details of the preferred spots to wait in all these areas and also some of the latest hot areas reported by the regular birders and those I stumbled on from time to time.