The Pittas (pictured) are Choy's favourite species of bird and can be found in Peninsular Malaysia. — Photos: CHOY WAI MUN
While it’s easy to overlook the chirping and fluttering of our avian friends in daily life, birdwatchers – or birders, as they are often called – are enthusiasts who go above and beyond to marvel at everything from the rarest feathered creatures to common backyard visitors.
Armed with gear ranging from simple binoculars to high-end cameras, birdwatching communities are centred around identifying bird sightings and sharing stunning photos and videos of these winged wonders in their natural habitats.
Choy has been passionate about birding for over 30 years, a hobby that began in his teenage years.
One such member of the community is Choy Wai Mun, an enthusiast who has been involved in birdwatching since the late 1980s and serves as an admin and committee member for the Wild Bird Club of Malaysia (WBCM) Facebook group. WBCM is a non-governmental organisation registered under the Registrar of Societies of Malaysia.
When asked about the appeal of this hobby for enthusiasts, he says the main attraction is the pure amazement and fascination birds inspire.
“Their ability to master flight and unrivalled resplendence made them objects of admiration since the beginning of time,” he says, adding that the birdwatching communities are made of people from all walks of life.
“The one thing they all have in common is their love for birds and this peculiar hobby.”
Malaysia-based online communities focused on birding have flourished with the rise of the Internet and social media, including groups like WBCM.
In these communities, members share sightings, exchange knowledge and experiences, and provide details about their birding trips, often accompanied by pictures and videos of their avian encounters.
According to Choy, it doesn’t take much to join in on the fun of appreciating our wondrous feathered friends.
A Barred Eagle-Owl, aka the Malay eagle-owl, making an appearance at Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.
“For birding, all you really need is a pair of binoculars to find and identify the birds and a notebook to record your sightings.
“For bird photography, you will need a camera with zoom lens because we are dealing with wild and free subjects here. That is just the basic gear.
“There are a lot of other equipment and accessories to enhance your birding endeavours, and it all depends on how passionate you are about this hobby and how much you are willing to spend,” he says.
However, as with most hobbies involving camera equipment, those interested in the photography aspect may need to be prepared to spend a bit more.
“A basic point-and-shoot camera will probably cost around RM1,000, and at the other end of the spectrum, a high-end camera body with a prime lens can cost RM80,000 and beyond,” he says.
Choy has invested a fair amount in equipment, with his current setup consisting of a camera body, a zoom lens, and binoculars totalling about RM15,000.
Birds of a different feather
While both birders and bird photographers are often grouped together within the community, their core motivations have distinct differences.
Birders typically focus on observing and identifying species, prioritising the experience of seeing and hearing birds in their natural habitats.
In contrast, bird photographers focus on capturing striking visual moments that represent specific species, according to Stanford University’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve website.
“Birding and bird photography are now lumped together as one, with the majority being bird photographers rather than birders,” says Choy, who describes himself as more of a birder than photographer.
For those new to birding, Choy recommends starting out at city parks or other easily accessible outdoor locations.
The size of the community can vary depending on geographical location. For instance, Choy says states like Selangor, Penang and Perak have the largest number of enthusiasts and birding activities.
Choy began his journey into birdwatching as a teenager when his godfather took him on a birding trip organised by the Malaysian Nature Society, sparking a passion that has endured for over three decades.
“I started birding more than 30 years ago, and back then, there were only probably about 10 serious birders in my home state of Penang.
“Now, the community here is in the hundreds, and it is no longer unusual to bump into another birder in the field,” he says.
The Internet has been transformative for the hobby, according to Choy, with a plethora of information about birds and birding now available at one’s fingertips.
“Old-school birders like yours truly had to visit libraries and read books in order to gain knowledge. The advancement of birding equipment like binoculars, cameras, and spotting scopes is taking birding to the next level,” he says.
The hobby is not without its own set of challenges, as Choy says that those interested in getting into the hobby must be patient, determined and above all, possess an undying interest.
“Waking up before the break of dawn and enduring the natural elements is all a small price to pay for a chance to encounter birds in all their splendour.
“The most common challenge I can think of would be to have a bird flying away before you have the chance to identify and observe it,” he adds.
According to Choy, all it takes to get started as a birder is a pair of binoculars and a notebook, along with a camera and zoom lens for those looking to take photographs.
He advises those interested in trying the hobby to learn as much as they can about birds and gain field experience, as skill will follow with time and practice.
Choy also serves as a reviewer with the online birding platform eBird (ebird.org), which he describes as a digital archive where the community can submit bird sightings and photographs, making it a valuable resource filled with user contributions.
“Because of all these contributions, it is also an online library rich in information. You should do some research before embarking on your birding adventure and eBird is a great place to start,” he says.
On the platform, Choy reviews submissions made for the states of Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, and Perak, with his role intended to maintain the integrity of the data collected on eBird.
He highlights that online communities such as WBCM saw a significant increase in member growth during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It was a difficult time for everyone because of all the uncertainties and the movement control order. Apart from birding from your home, there was nothing much that a birder could do.
“These communities are like a virtual gateway to the birding world where you can enjoy birding from the comforts of home. Photographs, videos and write-ups awe their online audiences and some postings provide knowledge and insights that are a wealth of information,” he says.
Choy shares that one thing sure to excite the community is sightings of particularly rare and hard-to-encounter birds, especially if it’s the first recorded sighting of the species in the country.
“Any rare bird will be able to get the whole community excited simply because it is rare and hard to encounter. However, if it is a ‘first record’ for the country, the level of excitement will be beyond words,” he adds.
One of the most recent first sightings of a rare bird in Malaysia was that of a Daurian Redstart.
“A dull-coloured female turned up back in 2020, and instead of some faraway exotic location, as most people would presume, she decided to go for a small park in a residential area on Penang Island,” he says.
Join the fun
For those new to birding, Choy recommends starting at city parks or other easily accessible outdoor locations.
“You can sometimes enjoy some decent birding even around your residential area,” he says, lamenting that he’s seen quite a number of good birding sites disappear through the years.
Currently, Sungai Sedim Recreational Park in Kedah and Bukit Larut in Perak are among his favourite birding spots, and despite both being out-of-state locations for him, they are not considered especially far away for a seasoned birder like Choy.
Choy exploring the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve in Kedah, a popular birding spot that houses all 10 Malaysian hornbill species.
Smartphones are also valuable tools for birders, with popular apps like Merlin Bird ID and iNaturalist helping to identify birds in the field.
When asked to pick a favourite bird species, Choy says, “It is difficult to choose one particular species because they are all almost equally incredible. I may not speak for all, but every bird is special in their own way.
“Even after all these years, I sometimes find myself drawn to some of the most common birds.
“I guess if I had to choose one, it would be the Pittas. There are seven species of these stunning terrestrial birds in Peninsular Malaysia and each and every one of them is a true feathered denizen.”
