Words by Ng Kit Wan
Images by Chan Kai Soon
Have you sometimes seen a colourful bird in your garden and wished you knew its name? How about that melodious call? Twenty people were eager to know and responded to the offer by the Malaysian Nature Society (Perak Branch) Bird Group to organise an Introduction to Birdwatching Course recently.
Coming from down south Johor to Penang, the participants were from all walks of life – the youngest being the 11-year-old boy from SRK La Salle, Ipoh, who was there all by himself; university students, a university lecturer, retirees, civil servants, a couple from the tourism industry and not forgetting a mother who brought along her three teenage daughters. Of course there was this curious guy from Penang who saw the advertisement and decided to make a day-trip to Ipoh.
During the theory session at Ipoh YMCA, the participants were introduced the basic equipment to start off this hobby, proper attire, the do’s and don’ts while watching birds, how to identify birds and the reasons why this hobby can actually help to protect and conserve Mother Earth.
At Kinta Nature Park, Batu Gajah, the participants had a hands-on session handling the binoculars and spotting-scope and using the Field Guides to identify birds. The resident otter also made a cameo appearance in the ex-mining pool.
The participants went home with certificates and the knowledge of what this “strange” hobby is all about. For more information on birdwatching, contact mnsperak@gmail.com or the Co-ordinator of Perak Bird Group at spizaetus08@gmail.com
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