Summary
The Asian Waterfowl Census 2001 (Malaysia) in January received encouraging participation from the birding community as reflected by its results. A total of 25 reports from 10 states were received. There was an increase from last year’s count in terms of  species and number of individuals. A total of 16,308 (58 species) of the listed birds were recorded at 25 sites. Despite the decrease in the number of sites surveyed, the quality of the information remained high. The report below will further deliberate on the information received for this year’s count.

1.0.  RESULTS & DISCUSSION
1.1 Sites surveyed
      A total of 25 wetland sites in 10 states were surveyed throughout the country during the period. Selangor have the highest number of sites surveyed (7), followed closely by Sarawak (5) and Perak (4). Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Sabah and Pahang had one each. Two sites were observed in Pulau Pinang and Perlis. A further breakdown of the information is shown below:
      Fourteen sites were re-surveyed while eleven were new to the count. A wide range of habitat was covered including riverine mangroves, mudflats, ricefields, old mining pools, reservoirs, beaches, natural freshwater lakes, estuaries, wetland sanctuaries and high-tide roosts. A further breakdown of the sites surveyed is shown on page 8.

1.1.1.   Sites of Significant Importance for Waterbirds
      Two sites remain the most important areas for waterbirds based on the reports; Kapar Powerstation in Selangor and Kampung Buntal in Sarawak.  A total of 4,049 and 5,326 waterbirds were recorded on at Kapar and Kampung Buntal respectively on the same day, 14th January.

1.1.2 Wetland Type, Status and Threats
Most of the sites surveyed can be classified into three wetland types, namely;

• estuaries, tidal mudflats and salt pans;
• gravel pits, mineral workings and mining pools; and
• mangrove, nipah.

ASIAN WATERFOWL CENSUS - SITES SURVEYED
 

PERLIS 1. Kuala Perlis  2. Timah-Tasoh Dam  KEDAH 3. Kedah Coast (Kuala Kedah to Kg Sala)  PULAU PINANG 4. Pantai Acheh Village  5. Penaga-Kuala Muda  PERAK 6. Pinji Estate  7. Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary  8. Proposed Kinta Nature Park  9. Kamunting Mining Pools  KUALA LUMPUR 10. Pantai Hall Sewerage Ponds  MELAKA 11.  Batang Tiga

SELANGOR 11. Paya Indah Wetland Sanctuary  12. Berjuntai Tin  13. Kampung Bukit Chunggang  14. Jeram Beach  15. Kapar PowerStation  16. Putrajaya Wetlands  17. Rantau Panjang Ex-Mining Ponds SARAWAK 18. Loagan Bunut Lakes  19. Kuala Baram  20. Miri Peatswamp  21. Kampung Buntal  22. Kampung Jaie/Kampung Semera  PAHANG 23. Sungai Galing  SABAH 25.  Likas Bird Sanctuary

 
      Based on these habitats, most of the sites surveyed remains unprotected (12 sites). Few, however, remained under government protection (6 sites) or under private ownership (6 sites). The status of the rest remains unknown due to the lack of information.
      Many of the sites are currently threatened by several factors. The main threat is vegetation clearance (9 sites) followed by pollution from solid waste (7 sites) and cutting and domestic sewerage (6 sites). Eutrophication remains problematic for some inland lakes or ponds (3 sites).

1.2 Waterfowl Count
      An increase in the number of species (59) and individuals (16,308) was noted for the count as compared to last year, 56 and 15,566 respectively. The heron and egret and geese and duck category showed an increase in the number of individuals with 4,081 and 363 respectively (2000: 2,282 and 168 respectively). The number of species, however, remains unchanged. Shorebirds (waders, gulls and terns) declined slightly as compared to last year with 10,232 (waders) and 1,237 (gulls and terns) individuals. The number of species counted for waders (27 species) also dropped from last year (29 species). Gulls and terns recorded 2 additional species from last year’s five.
      The most numerous species (over the 1,000 individual threshold) encountered throughout the count were the Mongolian Plover (1,389), Redshank (1,222), Eurasian Curlew (1,108), Greater Sand Plover (1,047) and Chinese Pond-heron (1,044).
      Three globally threatened species were recorded; the Storm’s Stork (2 individuals) in Sarawak, Lesser Adjutant (3 individuals) in Perak and a single Nordmann’s Greenshank in Pulau Pinang. Locally endangered birds such as Oriental Darters (4 individuals) in Sarawak and Malaysian Plovers (8 individuals) entered this year’s count as well.
      A complete count for the AWC 2001 is shown in the bird list; (Family/ Species/ Number of Individuals)

1.3. Other Interesting Sightings

• Five sightings of Ruff along the Kedah coast.
• A total of 633 Chinese Pond-herons were recorded along the Penaga-Kuala Muda stretch, Pulau Pinang while a single population of 248 were counted roosting at the Sungai Galing river bank. 
• A single Nordmann’s Greenshank was seen along the Penaga-Kuala Muda stretch.
• 564 Black-crowned Night-herons at the proposed Kinta Nature Park and another 133 at Rantau Panjang ex-mining ponds. These represent inland populations of this particular species.
• Three Lesser Adjutants at Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary, Perak.
• A single count of 300 individual Common Teals at Pinji Estate, Ipoh.
• Two Storm’s Stork were sighted at the Loagan Bunut freshwater lakes.

      In future, continuous monitoring of sites is necessary to maintain a high level of consistency in the records and information collected. Therefore, annual re-counts of all the sites are a must. Current census (and even past ones) has shown that major information gaps still exist particularly from the East Coast (Peninsular Malaysia), Sarawak and Sabah. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to note that some or even single reports have been sent in for this year’s count from these areas.
      The continuity and success of the Asian Waterfowl Census depends entirely on  volunteers and conservation-minded people. It is hoped that more sites would be covered, also re-counted, for next year’s count.

Acknowledgements
      The MNS-BCC would like to thank all volunteers and new comers who diligently participated in this year’s count and submitted reports. Without their enthusiasm and effort, data collection for the count would not have been possible.
      Reports were sent in by Hymeir Kamarudin, Kanda Kumar, Lim Kim Chye, Lim Swee Yian, Cheang Kum Seng, David Li, Sim Chenghua, Edmund Oh, Nicole, Glenda Noramly, Alvin Lopez, Yeap Chin Aik, Choo Jiin Hwa, Terry Ong, Mah Teck Oon, Dr. Sundari, Muru, Yang Chong, Goh Kam Chan, Wilbur Goh, Margy Lee, John Parr, Tan Cheng Yam, Nazeri Abghani, Saiful-Bahri Zainal, Noor Zainal, Jim Warburton, Taha Johny, Mukhda Parr, Natalie Parr, Verma C. Vitales, Lee Bor Seng, Eddie Abdullah, Anthony Sebastian, Daniel Kong, Jason Hon and William Bleisch.
Reported by: Yeap Chin Aik
                      Scientific Officer (Ornithology)
                      Malaysian Nature Society – Bird Conservation Council
                      (26th June 2001)