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‘Stork Island’ In Teluk Intan A Paradise For Nature Lovers

‘Stork Island’ In Teluk Intan A Paradise For Nature Lovers

Pulau Bangau is accessible to the public and has become a popular haunt for birdwatchers, photographers and anglers.

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Every day when the sun goes down, about 50,000 birds of various species fly back to their flock nests in Pulau Bangau (Stork Island) after a day out looking for food.

These birds flew low across Sungai Perak, looking like Japanese planes about to attack enemy ships during the Second World War.

Located in Teluk Intan, Pulau Bangau is touted as the nation’s largest heronry and is fast becoming renowned as a birdwatchers’ paradise.

Pulau Bangau is made up of three islets on Sungai Perak. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia (Ecomy) chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian said thousands of birds of various species, including migratory birds, have made Pulau Bangau their home.

Pulau Bangau is blessed with a large population of storks and other bird species such as eagles, hornbills, purple heralds, grey heralds, little egrets and cattle egrets.

Ecomy chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian to TRP on the richness of biodiversity in Pulau Bangau.
During the initial nest building, the herons will be busy collecting sticks from nearby trees. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Sebastian, who is a well-regarded naturalist, environmentalist and sought-after nature/bird guide, said there are no words that can describe how beautiful the scenery in Pulau Bangau is.

He said it is the best place in Malaysia to see thousands of birds flying back to their nests as dusk approaches before landing on the branches.

A birding expedition by Ecomy at Pulau Bangau. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Sebastian added that it would be a waste if the potential of developing the area as a tourist attraction is ignored.

To this end, conservation proposals are being drawn and submitted to the authorities for further action.

 A lurking monitor lizard hidden among the trees in Pulau Bangau. The large population of birds are a source of food for the reptile. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Sebastian said the ultimate goal is to promote Pulau Bangau as a nature-based, environmentally educated and sustainably managed ecotourism product.

Ecotourism can result in an overall increase in species survival over time if tourism is managed correctly. Ecotourism is increasingly being used as a conservation tool worldwide and is effective in preserving threatened biodiversity.

Ecomy chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian to TRP on the benefits of ecotourism.
The sticks for building nests can be dead twigs lodged in trees or dead stems that need to be broken off. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

A Positive Impact On The Local Economy

Local tour guide Muhammad Sahril said the panorama attracted visitors, including foreign tourists who take a boat ride down the river.

He runs a boat operating company, allowing the public to experience this exciting experience.

The colonies in Pulau Bangau contain several species, as well as other species of waterbirds. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

According to him, the best time to see these birds is in the evening, besides being able to watch the sunset.

Usually, these birds will go out at 5.30 in the morning to look for food up in paddy fields before returning to the nest at 6.30 in the afternoon.

Local tour guide Muhammad Sahril to TRP on the best time to see the birds.
Herons’ nests are massive bulky platforms constructed using mainly sticks found in the nesting area. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

He said the 14.3-hectare Pulau Bangau is the choice for birds due to its strategic position in the middle of a river that is difficult for human intruders to reach.

A typical river cruise to Pulau Bangau takes between 45 and 90 minutes, with fares ranging from RM18 for children to RM60 for adults.

An Ecomy staff trying out a mangrove tree fruit. Looking on are Ecomy CEO Andrew Sebastian (centre) and local tour guide Muhammad Sahril (left). (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Ready For A New Season Of Birding?

Visitors are reminded to bring binoculars because they are the go-to optical tool when it is time to see a rare bird up close.

For photo lovers, it would be more satisfying if these beautiful moments were captured using a single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR).

Using the right camera will deliver exceptional image quality with your most memorable wildlife adventures. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Sebastian, a co-founder of the Asian Bird Fair (ABF), said most wildlife photographers favour the 100-400mm and 200-600mm, such as the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G, which is ideal for serious bird photographers.

It’s a super-telephoto lens with advanced features for high-performance shooting. It has the best example of Sony’s AF motor and image stabilization. It’s also excellent value for a super-telephoto lens from Sony’s G series.

Ecomy chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian to TRP on the best camera and lens for bird watching.
Pulau Bangau (left) is formed of silt and sand carried down by Sungai Perak. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

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