Perak Nature – Oct/Nov 2009 edition Page 1 of 8

MNS Mission : To promote the study, appreciation, conservation and protection of ’s natural heritage, focusing on biological diversity and sustainable development. MNS website : www.mnsperak.wordpress.com ● Email address: [email protected] ● Mailing address : P.O. Box 34, Garden Post Office, 31407 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI BRANCH EXCO 09 / 10 & Chairman Mr. Leow Kon Fah HAPPY DEEPAVALI 019-5634598 [email protected]

Vice Chairman Mr Lee Ping Kong What’s new? 016-5655682 [email protected] What’s up? Hon. Secretary Ms. Georgia Tham Yim Fong 012-5220268 Who am I? True or False? [email protected] Chairman’s message Hon. Treasurer You are wanted… Mr. Har Wai Ming 019-5724113 New portfolio – PR & Communications [email protected] SIG news and events Committee Members Members say Mr. Ooi Beng Yean Let’s celebrate True or False? 017-5082206 [email protected] Mr Tou Jing Yi 1. Kinta Nature Park (KNP) 016-5441526 Project was first proposed [email protected] by MNS Perak Branch in Ms Lee Yuat Wah 017-5775641 the year 2000. [email protected] Mr Casey Ng Keat Chuan 2. One of the aims of the 019-5717008 KNP project is to set up [email protected] (Public Relations & Communications) more duck farms. Ms Ruhil Azhana Bt Jaafar 013-5284288 Ms Ng Kit Wan Answers inside…… 019-5439647 [email protected] (Editorial Board) Hon. Auditor Who am I? Mr. Edward Yong Chuen Soon

Countdown 2010 70th Anniversary of MNS 40th Anniversary of MNS Perak Branch

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Chairman’s Message

Hi fellow members,

This issue of newsletter is rather late, this is to accommodate the newly formed Strategy Planning Committee headed by Vice-Chairman Lee Ping Kong who has numerous agenda for members to apprehend. Committee member Casey Ng has come up with a website: http://mnsperak.wordpress.com whereby members can access the website for more information on Perak Branch. The website www.mns.org.my is still in use, but a new webpage is being reorganized and is expected to be unveiled soon.

Cheang Kum Seng, a well know photographer has come up with a book “Limestone Hills and Caves of The ”. The photography work is by him and with the help of volunteers over a period of more than 15 years and the book is now ready and is on sale. The book cost RM100 for members and RM110 for non- members. If you want to purchase a copy, do give me or any of the office-bearers a call.

Some of the things we are working on are, Kinta Nature Park, expanding nature education and Kelab Pencinta Alam, looking into joint projects with institutes of higher learning and also environment related projects in the state together with other NGOs that share the same ideas. To start with the branch is meeting UTAR in Kampar to initiate an environmental project in and around UTAR campus in Kampar.

We are looking forward to a busy year as the year 2010 is the branch’s 40th anniversary and Malaysian Nature Society 70th anniversary. You will expect a whole year of events in Perak as well as all over the country as every branch will be celebrating the society’s 70th anniversary. Events will be announced periodically through the branch newsletter or you can log in the branch webpage.

Here I would like to thank members for attending the AGM and for voting new committee members who are committed to the cause of the society and with the cooperation of all members we hope to see our membership increases in the next few months and will continue to do so for years to come.

Wishing our Muslim members “SELAMAT HARI RAYA ADILFITRI” and our Hindu members “HAPPY DEEPAVALI”.

Leow Kon Fah Chairman

Vice Chairman’s Message

Hi Members & Friends,

You are WANTED The committee of MNS Perak has been re-organised recently. We need members and friends to come forward to help to strengthen the function of various portfolios. The following are the area where helpers are needed: 1. Science & Conservation : 3 people 2a. Public Relation: 3 people 2b. Editorial : 2 people 3. Trekking : 3 people

The area of work:

1. Help to organize activities. 2. Help to coordinate tasks for smooth running of each group.

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This will help to ensure continuity of knowledge and experience that are accumulated over the years, and can be passed down to the next generation of members. At the same time, further enhance the development and growth of the society. Voluntary work in conservation of nature is a very meaningful and noble way of spending our spare time. It can also benefit more people and bring more happiness.

Please contact the coordinator of each group for further arrangement. Thank you.

Lee Ping Kong Vice Chairman Strategy Planning Committee

Casey’s Corner

Dear MNS members,

In line with our strategy of keeping members abreast with the latest announcements and updates, we have launched a new blog. Please click on www.mnsperak.wordpress.com.

The Executive Committee has decided to concentrate its effort to widen membership base and will embark in a series of awareness campaign this year. As the bane of modernity ruins more and more natural heritage sites, we need more minds and hands to work on championing conservation issues in Perak. On last count, Perak branch only has 167 members. That amount can hardly move mole hills, much less mountains. We need more members. Hence, kindly do your best to bring in friends and acquaintances to join MNS as members.

We have been pondering about programs to keep members close knitted. For a start, we hope this blog will serve as a virtual venue where all members can exchange comments and get to know each and other. So, look up the blog on weekly basis and drop a comment or two. We would love to hear from you. Also, if you have a good story to tell, ping us. Let’s upload it in the blog for sharing.

Lastly, we hope some of you will come forward to volunteer as Special Interest Group (SIG) members as announced here - http://mnsperak.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/vounteers-needed/. It won’t take much of your time. Remember, all of us are volunteers too and we have careers and families to tend. All we ask is that you lend a helping hand to group leaders and make activities more vibrant and meaningful. SIG leaders themselves are expert in their chosen fields. You will enjoy learning and working with them.

Thank you.

Casey Ng Public relations & Communications Source : Poems for the Green Age by Pat Moon earth lines Finders – keepers; Losers - weepers

Men once found ways to share with Earth, To give and take in equal worth, Then passed her on for us to keep. If we lose her, who’ll be here to weep?

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……………………………………………………………………………. Science & Conservation Coordinator Dr. Abdul Karim Russ Bin Hassan [email protected] ……………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………. Bird Watching Coordinator Mr Lim Kim Chye 016-5538431 [email protected] S ……………………………………………………………………………. P Hi birders, members and all, U The Bird Group, as applied to MNS Perak Branch, is a loose term meant to include members who are interested in birds and engage in birdwatching. As such, there is no “official” Bird Group membership list O but only an elected Bird Group (BG) Committee. Needless to say the BG Committee consists of members who are birders and its main function is to organize bird-related activities as well as to respond to bird R issues when required. The Bird Group Committee for 2009-2010 is as follows: G

Co-ordinator: Lim Kim Chye

Asst. Co-ordinator: Ng Kit Wan Secretary: Lim Swee Yian

T Treasurer: Tan Ah Lai

S 7 Committee members: Ooi Beng Yean, Dr Chan Kai Soon, Susan Cheong, Chiu Sein Chiong, Loke Chong Ming, David Chin, Lai Ah Moi. E

As the new BG Co-ordinator, I’ve been asked to pen a few lines on my “vision” for the Bird Group. R For any Special Interest Group, I guess the foremost vision or wish would be for the group to increase members’ interest or participation in its particular field. Although basically this means recruiting more E members into birding, my personal vision for the Perak Bird Group is for birders to improve themselves and progress beyond just watching and photographing birds to studying birds in the field and reporting T what you observe. Add value to your birding by contributing your observations to MNS Bird-I-Witness database. Return the favour to the birds that gave you so much enjoyment by supporting bird N conservation projects and helping to stamp out illegal bird-trapping. I

L

A The Taiping Raptor Watch, organised by Bird Group of MNS Perak Branch, has been held

I annually since 2003. Depending on weather, members and the public can expect to be amazed at the spectacular flights of buzzards, hawks and bazas migrating over Scott's Hill, Taiping. Last year, we C counted about 2 700 raptors of 6 species. E Taiping Raptor Watch 2009 P

S Date : Sunday 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs Meeting time/place : Scott’s Hill, Taiping Coordinators : Lim Kim Chye & Lim Swee Yian (016-553 8431, 016-422 3895)

Meet at the foot of Scott’s Hill (see map for directions) at 9.00 a.m. from where it is a short uphill walk to the observation site. Wear light clothes and hat and bring an umbrella (for protection from the sun), binoculars, water and snacks. Optional: a chair or groundsheet to sit on while waiting for the raptors to

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turn up. For more information on raptor migration, please visit this website: Asian Raptor Research & Conservation Network (ARRCN) http://www.5b.biglobe.ne.jp S P U O Perak Hornbill Survey Workshop 24th May 2009 (by Lim Kim Chye)

R The Bird Group of MNS Perak Branch has been approached by HQ to survey for hornbills in Perak. The objectives of this work are (1) to improve our knowledge on hornbill distribution in Perak (outside of G

Belum-Temengor) and (2) to engage the Perak Branch Bird Group in “citizen science” thereby improving

their bird identification and monitoring skills.

T As a preliminary to the start of the Perak Hornbill Survey, the Bird Group held a workshop for members interested in participating in the survey. The workshop, held on Sunday 24 May 2009 at Nature’s Lodge, S Ipoh, was attended by a small but interested group. E The workshop presentation covered survey methodology, including best practice to locate hornbills, what data to collect and how to use Google Earth to obtain co-ordinates of hornbill records. As a refresher on R hornbill identification, the presentation also showed images of all 10 species of hornbills found in Perak, and reproduced their recorded calls. The workshop concluded with distribution of hornbill notes and CDs E to the participants and discussions on allocation of sites to be surveyed. T Lim Kim Chye and Lim Swee Yian conducted the workshop which was attended by the following members: Dr Chan Kai Soon, Susan Cheong, Connie Khoo, Ho Kum Leng, Lee Yuat Wah, Poon Kuan N Yaow, Lean Yen Loong, Wong Koon Yoke, Tan Chin Tong, Loke Choon Ming, David Chin, Khoo Yee Sin I and Tou Jing Yi.

Hornbill Survey At Hutan Lipur Ulu Licin, 26th July 2009 (by Dr Chan Kai Soon)

L Only five people did the survey. Susan and I, and Robert Percival came from Ipoh via while Chan Ah Lak and Sharon came from Taiping via . Our group saw nine Oriental Pied Hornbills while passing A by Parit. We met up at the Beruas Sunday market and proceeded to the recreational forest, which is about I 6km away. The hazy atmosphere was still apparent despite some light rain. The place was very quiet and no hornbill was recorded. By 1200hr, I decided to end the survey and return home. C

E Hornbill Survey At WildLife Sanctuary 16th August 2009 (by Dr Chan Kai Soon)

P No one called up to join Susan and I for this trip. Susan and I reached the place at 9.15 am and after settling down, proceeded to walk round the Seladang trail. The place was generally quiet and only few

S visitors came, mostly just driving through the trail without stopping. Birds were few and broadbills were calling but could not be seen. No hornbill was seen along this trail but the Seladang seemed to be less shy of people now. When we returned to the car park, Susan saw an Oriental Pied Hornbill feeding inside the compound behind the pheasant breeding room. It was eating fruits fallen onto the ground and not very shy of people, probably being an escapee. We left the place at about 1320hr and went to wetlands to do a recce. Water level was low in most ponds and bird life was sparse too. However, we did see a few Common Sandpiper, indicating that the migrant season has started!

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Hornbill Survey At Ulu Kenas 23rd August 2009 (by Dr Chan Kai Soon)

Nine members turned up for a survey. We were later joined by Ooi Beng Yean who also left earlier. The day started off badly as the whole area was raining since we arrived at the visitor’s car part at about 7.45am. Hence we had to take shelter from the main shelter opposite the food stall. The area was devoid of people as this was the fasting month. Jabatan Perhutanan had placed a mobile office at the area and a lady ranger came to talk to us. She told us that she regularly sees up to four hornbills from the shelter area. True enough, I heard the call of the rhinoceros hornbill but could not find it. Later Iris Kok was the first person to see the bird in a distant tree. At about 1030hrs, the rain had subsided considerably and we tracked into the trail leading to the mini-hydro station. The track was wet and very quiet. Only a few birds

S were seen but leeches were aplenty. We came out of the trail at about 1200 hrs. At 1230hrs when Susan and I decided to leave, an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, rufous-backed morph came and perched near my car P as I was packing my gears into the car. Unfortunately, it did not stay long enough for me to take any video. U ……………………………………………………………………………. O Nature Education

R Coordinator Mr. Marimaran s/o Vadiveloo 012-4626292 [email protected] ……………………………………………………………………………. G

Park & Herbal Garden, Papan FR 11th June 2009 (by Lee Yuat Wah)

T I lead a group of KPA students from SMK to Kinta Nature Park and Herbal Garden in Papan Forest Reserve . Perak Bird Group was represented by Mr. Lean Yean Long. Mr. Lean gave them a short S briefing on the history of KNP and then divided the 40 students into four groups. He explained to the

E students the types of birds found in the park. Through the binoculars, the students were able to see egrets, night herons, purple herons and many water birds actively moving about on the trees and around the lake. R

E We noticed that the trees and the vegetation by the lake were not growing well. Some had dry branches and yellow leaves. The water level in the lake was lower than before. The students managed to spot a

T number of migratory birds before they left for the Herbal Garden at Papan Forest Reserve.

When the bus reached Papan, the bus driver refused to drive into the Herbal Garden. Hence, the students N and I had to track in 5km. Fortunately, a teacher from SMK Menglembu helped us to transport all the I

food into the Herbal Garden in his 4 wheel drive. We had lunch in the Herbal Garden near the river side.

Most of the herbal plants in this garden were not well taken care of. Not all the herbs were labelled. It was not well maintained compared to the Herbal Garden in . Anyway, students got to know

L this camping ground which is very near to their school.

At 2pm, we adjourned to a factory manufacturing environmental-friendly hair shampoo, washing A detergent and organic soap. The factory owner told us why he wanted to produce recycled natural I washing products and why his factory products are environmental-friendly. The students were shown

C how the machines work. We were given an organic soap each and served with free refreshment. Everyone was tired. But they were glad to be able to learn and gain a lot of information in this one day

E tour.

P ……………………………………………………………………………. S Caving & Trekking Coordinator Mr. Mr Mah King Wah 017-5799189 [email protected] …………………………………………………………………………….

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Who am I? Papilionanthe Hookeriana True or False? 1. TRUE 2. FALSE

Member’s Two Cents Members are invited to share their views of common interest. Say something…your experience in helping to save Mother Earth or some environmental friendly tips! Hope to hear from you. Write in to [email protected] or mail to our postal address. Authors are to provide their full name and membership number. No pseudonym is allowed. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the author and not those of MNS or the Editorial.

How to be an intrepid traveler By Casey Ng

An intrepid explorer goes to small towns. A tourist prefers cities. When you show good manners, you’re an intrepid traveler. When you’re annoying, you’re a tourist.

The word intrepid is measured by mindset, not how many places visited. Winging a trail and not knowing how it will end up is exciting. In intrepid mode, you are gutsy, sometimes reckless even. But let’s admit, it’s hard to be an adventurer with only 3 weeks of holiday a year. No one starts out as an intrepid explorer naturally, but some tips won’t harm …

Tip 1 – Money

Stop feeding on your parents’ hard earned cash. Get a real job. Don’t ask for mountain treks, reef diving or polar expedition followed by “my budget is $50 per day”. It’s irritating. To go where few has boldly gone before isn’t going to be shoestring. If you don’t have the money, stay at home. Watch National Geographic on TV instead.

Tip 2 – Who you travel with

Everyone fantasizes that Indiana Jones lives deep inside him somewhere. But who says adventure is all about gawking at historic sites or basking in a sun soaked beach. People say great destination is only half the deal. We say a travel mate is the other half. Go traveling with your grandma. A trip like that will ask you what you are made of. It’s good training too.

Tip 3 - Personal hygiene

The "intrepid traveler" isn’t sexy when he is filthy. You know ... shower, brush your teeth, wash your clothes, trim your fingernails. If you intend to have lady friends as traveling mates, they should feel clean sharing arm rest with you on train seats. They not want to be afraid of catching communicable disease from toilet seats, cups used by you, or be disgusted with your nose hairs in the bathroom sink.

Tip 4 - You are what you eat

Now that you are big enough to travel without mommy around, you're going to have to fend for yourself. Mc Donald’s happy meal doesn’t count as ethnic food. Avoid food that comes with disposable wares. Going green means more that vegetables. Learn to eat what locals eat, drink what locals drink. Better yet, learn how to actually cook local food.

Tip 5 - Substance please

A slick The North Face jacket doesn't make you an explorer. It only makes you look like a hobo dressed with thick clothing in hot Malaysian weather. Like Donald Trump’s comb-over, fakes are easy to spot. Logic is the key. We know it’s a holiday, but donning a pair of sunglasses while trekking dark forest floor tell a lot about your IQ (we see this happening all the time).

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Tip 6 - Keep the spirit

Let’s admit backpacking is cool but don’t ask around in Lonely Planet’s e-forum where to leave your luggage somewhere for a few days. That’s not “backpacking”. You are supposed to travel with all your belongings. Your backpack is your single most loyal companion and it deserves respect. Where you go, it goes.

Tip 7 - Personal virtue

An intrepid traveler goes will the flow. He shares with everyone, regardless of skin color, religious leanings or pedigree. He passes along expertise and good advice. Most importantly, an intrepid traveler looks out for women and children and makes them stand behind him in time of danger.

Tip 8 – Know it all

Understand the basic mechanics of planet Earth. Learn how to squint, look up at the sun, and tell what time of day it is. Smell the air and know when a storm is approaching. You should understand how eggs grow into tadpoles or why in certain countries people eat frogs. Observe and see things below the surface. An adventurer who has answers for everything always scores with the girls too.

Tip 9 – Never stop learning

You need a pea sized brain to get lost nowadays. Make use of the internet, guidebooks and e-forums. Read a lot. Don’t be fazed by places with locals who don’t speak English. Learn Sanskrit if you have to. And for Pete’s sake, pick up some foreign profanities too. Use it on your annoying boss back home. He won’t know what hit him.

Tip 10 - Slow down

People always rush into things. That’s how first marriages crash land. Travel less places but travel them well. Feel the wind in your hair. Do some voluntary work. Learn local crafts. Stay in a jungle village for a week or two. If you’re not meant for leeches and squat toilet, it’s a lesson too.

15th— 16 Sept 6th Oct 6th Oct 17th

World Food World Habitat Day International Day Clean Up The Ozone Day 21st—27th World Day 8th Oct Oct

International Malaysian Day for Natural Environment Disaster Reduction Week

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