A pair of Mantanani Scops Owls viewed through a telescope.
Spotting native species among skills taught to over 50 tour guides, enthusiasts in Sabah’s Kota Belud district
TO boost Sabah’s ecotourism sector, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) collaborated with Sabah Birdwatchers Association (SBA) for a three-day birdwatching excursion.
UMS, through its Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC), and SBA, brought together over 50 participants − including local tourist guides, birding enthusiasts and even a participant from Singapore − for the Seabirds Identification Workshop.
The birders were eager to deepen their understanding of seabird species and conservation.
Supported by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and water concessionaire Jetama Sdn Bhd, the workshop was part of UMS’ 30th anniversary celebrations.
Attendees were taught essential birdwatching skills that focused on the identification of various seabirds native to Sabah’s diverse habitats.
According to BTRC director Assoc Prof Dr Balvinder K. Kler, the workshop aimed to build knowledge of local wildlife and highlight the potential for birdwatching within the state’s ecotourism industry.
“The initiative aimed to enhance birdwatching skills while highlighting its importance as a niche ecotourism activity in Sabah,” she said in a media statement.
She added that well-known field ornithologist David Bakewell was flown in to train the participants.
The first day of the workshop, she said, covered the identification of terns, skuas and gulls in the morning.
In the afternoon, participants learnt to spot shearwater, petrels, frigatebirds and boobies.
“A field trip to Pulau Mantanani, off the northern Kota Belud district, on Day Two did not disappoint as participants were delighted by large numbers of frigatebirds.
Birdwatchers spot a Mantanani Scops Owl on a casuarina tree during the trip to the Mantanani Island. — Photos courtesy of UMS
“These included the Lesser and Christmas Frigatebirds just as they left the Kampung Rampayan Laut jetty,” Balvinder recounted.
UMS and SBA have worked together since 2022, she revealed, as both were aware that birdwatching had become a lucrative ecotourism activity in Sabah.
They had also realised that there was a need for more birdwatching guides.
Furthermore, they had wanted to encourage birdwatching as a hobby among students and locals to increase public awareness of the value of habitat conservation.
“Identification workshops so far have included those for shorebirds in 2022, raptors in 2023 and seabirds this year.
“In line with the UMS slogan of ‘Leading Towards Innovative Societies’, the university continues to engage with non-governmental organisations like SBA to provide avenues for tourism industry youths to enhance their skills and knowledge,” she explained.
Balvinder said some participants were younger guides who would receive Continuous Tourism Related Education (CTRE) certification for this course from the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
“More birdwatching courses are in the works for next year.”
These courses, she added, would target community-based tourism players as well as a forum with international experts.
SBA president Ron Pudin said the association aimed to provide future birders, especially at the junior or school levels, with a better platform to pursue their interest.
“This includes spreading the message that birdwatching is a healthy activity which promotes the well-being of individuals and families.
“We are glad that the outing made a record of sorts with over 50 participants, the largest group of birders congregating in one place during the Pulau Mantanani trip,” he said.
On the final day, participants reviewed photographs that had been taken during the field trip in relation to knowledge gained in class.
They also learned more about the intricacies of the ebird app hosted by the US-based Cornell Ornithology Lab.
The app acts as a public record of the value of a place as a birding location, where enthusiasts contribute sightings, log species and numbers observed, and keep checklists.
