It’s the time of year again, when the spotlight falls on the wetlands of Kuala Selangor, Malaysia, and its resident and migratory birds. On the 19th October 2019, Pesta Sayap (Festival of Wings) was part of the Karnival Kuala Selangor 2019 with a range of activities at the Dataran Melawati, Kuala Selangor town.
Now in its 14th year, Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) with its partner, District Council of Kuala Selangor, celebrated Pesta Sayap in conjunction with the World Migratory Bird Day with the theme “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution”. About 500 public including 350 school children, MNS members, birdwatchers and wetlands warriors attended this whole day-long event from 7.00 AM to 11.30 PM, with activities such as nature walks and talks, exhibitions, night run, etc, for people at different ages. Various interesting activities were prepared and the event was officiated by Sultanah Selangor D.Y.M.M. Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
There were exhibition booths operated by the local communities to promote their activities and products. Besides that, a range of activities highlighting the conservation of wetlands and its biodiversity for the school children, local community and public were held. Activities include mangrove tree planting, plastic talk and interactive games, mangrove guided walk, and Flyway community sharing sessions.
Figure 1. The event was officiated by Sultanah Selangor D.Y.M.M. Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin © MNS
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Figure 2. Sultanah Selangor D.Y.M.M. Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin at the observation tower © MNS
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Figure 3. Volunteers nature guides (top left) and school students visited Kuala Selangor Nature Park during Festival of Wings © MNS
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Figure 4. Tree planting activity at Kuala Selangor Nature Park © MNS
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Figure 5. Birdwatching activities © MNS
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Figure 6. Exhibitions on migratory birds, wetlands and other conservation themes © MNS
Asian Waterbird Census Course 2019
The Malaysian Nature Society has organised the Asian Waterbird Census Course at Kuala Selangor Nature Park in conjunction with Pesta Sayap (Festival of Wings). The course aimed to train the Flyway communities for the coming Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2020.
A total of 43 participants were coming from 7 villages which included Sungai Buloh Sasaran, Sungai Serdang, Pulau Ketam, Inspirasi Kawa Kuala Selangor; others included MNS members from Selangor branch, Beting Nature Society Bagan Datuk, Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (PIFWA) and Komuniti PAKAS.
The course consisted of a classroom lectures and outdoor practical session on waterbird identification. It also emphasized on the importance of conserving the East Asian Australasian Flyway and the roles which the communities can play.
Figure 6. Mr Khusaini (front right) from the Wildlife Department was the invited guest speaker, sharing the importance of migratory birds and the EAA Flyway © MNS
