Several local fishing boats seen skirting close to the shores of Turtle Beach, Similajau National Park 18th April 2009.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Fishing Boats Close to shore at Turtle Beach
Several local fishing boats seen skirting close to the shores of Turtle Beach, Similajau National Park 18th April 2009.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Stress reliever...
Most favorite little craby..simply because he/she provided fullest co-operation 4 this up close image :) can't wait to achieve that in work!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY 9-10th May 2009
This year the central theme of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is “BARRIERS TO MIGRATION”, highlighting the threat posed by man-made obstacles to birds during their annual migration.
Year by year in autumn and spring majestic flocks of migratory birds depart for their long journeys following the call of nature and the paths of their ancestors. For some, it is a long, exhaustive and often dangerous journey, stretching thousands of kilometers. Along their way migratory birds face a number of natural and man-made obstacles. They have to cope with scarcity of food, shrinking areas as stopover sites, predators, hostile weather, huge mountains and the expansion of the seas and deserts and other natural barriers.
Yet, humans have created additional obstacles to further complicate their journeys. Each year the number of man-made structures such as power lines, wind farms, television and mobile phone transmission masts, glass windows, tall buildings and other structures continues to grow irrespective of the migratory routes and the important sites used by migratory birds.
These man-made structures cause collisions that can result in fatalities. Many birds, especially those which migrate during the night, do not recognize these obstacles and collide with power lines, crash into glass windows or hit the rotating blades of wind turbines. They stay away from their regular stopover-sites when they are covered with wind farms or get off course when attracted by lights from communication masts and towers. Losses resulting from such bird-strikes account for huge numbers of dead and injured birds every year.
This year World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) aims to raise awareness on some of these man-made barriers to migration by encouraging national authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals around the world to organize events and awareness-raising programs which help draw attention to the many man-made obstacles migratory birds face during their migration.
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was launched in 2006 by the Secretariats of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the Convention on Migratory Species, two United Nations Environment Programme-backed environmental treaties dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and the world's other migratory avian, terrestrial and marine species. With this year's theme, the organizers intend to help raise awareness on some of the man-made barriers migratory birds face during migration and provide a global platform for people and dedicated organizations to take action for the conservation of migratory birds.
For more information please visit: http://www.worldmigratorybirdday/.
If you are interested to participate in any of these events or willing to contribute to the cause please drop us a line. We hope to hear from you!
Similajau Program to celebrate WMBD 2009 for schoolchildren surrounding Similajau National Park and park staff and family.
09th May Saturday
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
0730 Arrival of (30) students to Similajau NP, Registration
0800 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by Denis Degullacion
1000 Excursion around the Park and Mangrove Plankwalk led by John and Denis
1200 End of Session
1230 Departure of students
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
1330 Arrival of (30) students to Similajau NP, Registration
1400 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by John Bakar
1600 Excursion around the Park and Mangrove Plankwalk led by John and Denis
1800 End of Session
10th May Sunday
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
0730 Arrival of (30) students to Similajau NP, Registration
0800 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by John Bakar
1000 Excursion around the Park and Mangrove Plankwalk by John and Denis
1200 End of Session
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
1330 Arrival of staff and family to Similajau NP, Registration
1400 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by Nazeri Abghani
1600 Excursion and the Park and Mangrove Planks led by John, Denis, Nazeri
1800 End of Session
This event is brought to you by Similajau National Park, SFC-Bintulu Office, Malaysian Nature Society Miri Branch and Borneo Bird Club.
WMBD 2009: Barriers to Migration
Year by year in autumn and spring majestic flocks of migratory birds depart for their long journeys following the call of nature and the paths of their ancestors. For some, it is a long, exhaustive and often dangerous journey, stretching thousands of kilometers. Along their way migratory birds face a number of natural and man-made obstacles. They have to cope with scarcity of food, shrinking areas as stopover sites, predators, hostile weather, huge mountains and the expansion of the seas and deserts and other natural barriers.
Yet, humans have created additional obstacles to further complicate their journeys. Each year the number of man-made structures such as power lines, wind farms, television and mobile phone transmission masts, glass windows, tall buildings and other structures continues to grow irrespective of the migratory routes and the important sites used by migratory birds.
These man-made structures cause collisions that can result in fatalities. Many birds, especially those which migrate during the night, do not recognize these obstacles and collide with power lines, crash into glass windows or hit the rotating blades of wind turbines. They stay away from their regular stopover-sites when they are covered with wind farms or get off course when attracted by lights from communication masts and towers. Losses resulting from such bird-strikes account for huge numbers of dead and injured birds every year.
This year World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) aims to raise awareness on some of these man-made barriers to migration by encouraging national authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals around the world to organize events and awareness-raising programs which help draw attention to the many man-made obstacles migratory birds face during their migration.
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was launched in 2006 by the Secretariats of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the Convention on Migratory Species, two United Nations Environment Programme-backed environmental treaties dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and the world's other migratory avian, terrestrial and marine species. With this year's theme, the organizers intend to help raise awareness on some of the man-made barriers migratory birds face during migration and provide a global platform for people and dedicated organizations to take action for the conservation of migratory birds.
For more information please visit: http://www.worldmigratorybirdday/.
If you are interested to participate in any of these events or willing to contribute to the cause please drop us a line. We hope to hear from you!
Similajau Program to celebrate WMBD 2009 for schoolchildren surrounding Similajau National Park and park staff and family.
09th May Saturday
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
0730 Arrival of (30) students to Similajau NP, Registration
0800 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by Denis Degullacion
1000 Excursion around the Park and Mangrove Plankwalk led by John and Denis
1200 End of Session
1230 Departure of students
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
1330 Arrival of (30) students to Similajau NP, Registration
1400 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by John Bakar
1600 Excursion around the Park and Mangrove Plankwalk led by John and Denis
1800 End of Session
10th May Sunday
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
0730 Arrival of (30) students to Similajau NP, Registration
0800 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by John Bakar
1000 Excursion around the Park and Mangrove Plankwalk by John and Denis
1200 End of Session
Talk, Slideshow and Excursion
1330 Arrival of staff and family to Similajau NP, Registration
1400 Talk and Slideshow on Birds and Birdwatching by Nazeri Abghani
1600 Excursion and the Park and Mangrove Planks led by John, Denis, Nazeri
1800 End of Session
This event is brought to you by Similajau National Park, SFC-Bintulu Office, Malaysian Nature Society Miri Branch and Borneo Bird Club.
WMBD 2009: Barriers to Migration
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Weekend in Similajau
We packed up and made a weekend trip Similajau NP for a short R & R at the beach, who knows we might spot dolphins and perhaps get a close encounter with Similajau's friendly hornbills.
Well, at Similajau beach we got plenty of surf and the sand ... sunny blue-skies, clear water ideal for just jumping about in the surf. The young ones loved it!
The birds ... we sighted the usual old friends : magpie robin, house sparrow, asian glossy starlings, cream vented bulbul, plaintive cuckoo, white-breasted woodswallow, green imperial pigeon, black hornbill, dusky munia, brahminy kite, and common sandpipers. We also saw a nitejar at the parking lot ... no pictures were taken though on account of the camera infra-red not able to locate the bird in pitch darkness!
Sunsets ... we got our fair share of fabulous sunsets over the two evenings. Cotton candy clouds, orange tinge blue-skies! Perfect sunset!
Cicadas ... the kids were tickled pink when they found out that you can actually use the cicada as a musical instrument. But they still hated the donk! donk! donk! sound they made when they hit the walls at nite. There were especially many that weekend.
Dolphins ... we didn't see any. The weather however looks fabulously suited for some serious dolphin sightings ...
Visiting Similajau is actually best throughout the year. In the wet season (locally known as "landas") you may have plenty of rain and flooded sections, the sea as well will be rather rough for swimming but the sceneries are sublime non-the-less. Dramatic dark skies and rain clouds abound.
The more popular season for visitors would be during the dryer season from April til September. Skies are guaranteed blue with plenty of sunshine with only occasional summer rain and storms. The sea is calmer, water clearer which is ideal for your typical beachside actvities.
Magpie Robin at the park's canteen.
A little frog we found hanging out at the canteen.
Common Sandpiper under the shades.
Setting sun of a good blue skies day.
Rose tinged beachsands.
Just after sunset, the magical hour.
Swaying casuarinas and blue skies.
Well, at Similajau beach we got plenty of surf and the sand ... sunny blue-skies, clear water ideal for just jumping about in the surf. The young ones loved it!
The birds ... we sighted the usual old friends : magpie robin, house sparrow, asian glossy starlings, cream vented bulbul, plaintive cuckoo, white-breasted woodswallow, green imperial pigeon, black hornbill, dusky munia, brahminy kite, and common sandpipers. We also saw a nitejar at the parking lot ... no pictures were taken though on account of the camera infra-red not able to locate the bird in pitch darkness!
Sunsets ... we got our fair share of fabulous sunsets over the two evenings. Cotton candy clouds, orange tinge blue-skies! Perfect sunset!
Cicadas ... the kids were tickled pink when they found out that you can actually use the cicada as a musical instrument. But they still hated the donk! donk! donk! sound they made when they hit the walls at nite. There were especially many that weekend.
Dolphins ... we didn't see any. The weather however looks fabulously suited for some serious dolphin sightings ...
Visiting Similajau is actually best throughout the year. In the wet season (locally known as "landas") you may have plenty of rain and flooded sections, the sea as well will be rather rough for swimming but the sceneries are sublime non-the-less. Dramatic dark skies and rain clouds abound.
The more popular season for visitors would be during the dryer season from April til September. Skies are guaranteed blue with plenty of sunshine with only occasional summer rain and storms. The sea is calmer, water clearer which is ideal for your typical beachside actvities.
Some pictures from the weekend.
Common Sandpiper in silhouette.
Black Hornbill just swallowed his morning snack.
Magpie Robin at the park's canteen.
A little frog we found hanging out at the canteen.
Common Sandpiper under the shades.
Setting sun of a good blue skies day.
Rose tinged beachsands.
Just after sunset, the magical hour.
Swaying casuarinas and blue skies.
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