Journal of Sustainability Science and Management ISSN: 1823-8556 Volume 12 Number 2, December 2017: 135-160 © Penerbit UMT AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF MIGRATORY BIRDS IN KENYIR, SETIU AND PULAU PERHENTIAN BESAR, TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA GERTRUDE DAVID1*, AZUAN ROSLAN1, MAZRUL ASWADY MAMAT2, ABDULMULA ABDULMAGID HAMZA2 AND MOHD TAJUDDIN ABDULLAH1 1Centre for Kenyir Ecosystems Reseach, Kenyir Research Institute, 2School of Marine Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract: A field survey was done in Kenyir, Setiu and islands in Terengganu from March 2015 until February 2016. Mist nets were deployed at understorey level (>5 m) and canopy level (> 10 m for Setiu and > 15 m for Kenyir). Point Count was conducted at a 1 km distance and birds from the canopies and understorey were observed. A total of 106 individuals representing 26 species of migratory birds were recorded through mist netting and point count method throughout this period. The most abundant number of individuals came from the family Ardeidae with a total of 40 individuals (38%) from five species which are the Ardeola bacchus (Chinese Pond Heron), Egretta garzetta (Little Egret), Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (Cinnamon Bittern), Ixobrychus sinensis (Yellow Bittern) and Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron). While the second most abundant individuals came from the family Meropidae with only one species which is the Merops viridis (Blue-throated bee-eater) with a total of 20 (19%) individuals. According to Rajpar & Zakaria (2013), different habitat types will attract specific species of migratory birds based on vegetation structure and composition, food resources and microclimatic conditions that provide abundant resources for their survival. This paper presents a preliminary migratory avifauna list for Kenyir, Setiu and Pulau Perhentian Besar, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia and state the various habitat types that influence the migratory bird species that utilise it as stopover sites. Keywords: Birds, migratory, preliminary, point count, mist net. Introduction the year because they are able to consume According to Newton (2007), migration is occurring rich food supplies. Breeding restrict known when individuals make regular return birds to fixed localities for specific period of movements to specific destinations each year. the year, because individuals need to remain or Migrations routes and flyways are travel paths visit their nests frequently in order to feed their that a species normally make when travelling young. According to previous research, birds from breeding grounds to wintering grounds use at least two types of system to navigate (Tamblyn et al., 2006). Flyways are considered which are the geomagnetic and celestial cues to be the major highways to the branches of (the sun by day and the stars at night) (Wiltschko migratory routes. Most birds spent the annual & Wiltschko, 2009). The migratory birds’ order non-breeding period at lower latitudes compared of arrival is greatly influenced by the condition to their breeding period, but some may migrate of the birds (Kokko, 1999). Islands serve as to the opposite hemisphere with similar latitudes habitats for endemic, endangered and migratory where the seasons are reversed. Migration species (Turner et al., 2002). caused bird distribution to be constantly Birds’ lives are significant in the east coast changing (Newton, 2007). Birds are also well- area of Peninsular Malaysia and its offshore equipped for long-distance migration compare islands as they fall under the East Asian- to other animals. Australasian Flyway migration route (Tamblyn The flight advantage is speed, which is et al., 2006). Previous studies on birds in Setiu faster than walking, running or swimming. have been conducted by Tamblyn et al. (2006) Some birds benefit from migrating throughout and also in Perhentian islands by Tamblyn et Gertrude David et al. 136 al. (2005). In Perhentian islands, Tamblyn et al. A one-year bird survey in multiple study (2005) recorded 30 species of birds. Tamblyn sites with various habitat types were conducted et al. (2006) recorded 1862 individual birds from March 2015 until February 2016. The representing 76 species from 30 families from objectives of this study are to document the point count and 84 individuals representing 26 migratory species encountered throughout this species and 15 families for mist-netting method survey and to justify the relationship between in the study site in Setiu Wetlands. In this study, the habitat types and the migratory species. Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) was the most recorded species with 242 observations. Materials and Methods The only bird survey study done in Kenyir was conducted by Sulaiman et al. (2015) at Tasik Kenyir is the geology park that has been Tanjung Mentong which recorded a total of 21 identified to have a potential to be a Geosite individuals representing 12 species belonging to in Malaysia. It is the largest man-made lake 10 families. in Southeast Asia with the total of 340 islands (Shaharom-Harrison et al., 2015). A field survey Wetlands are known as the border of has been conducted in Belukar Bukit (N 4° habitats between terrestrial and aquatic 53’ 25.362” E 102° 59’ 33.506”) from 25th of ecosystems (Beury et al., 2008). Wetlands are September until 2nd October 2015 and Taman highly important due to its role as a habitat for Pertanian Sekayu (N 4°58’177 E 102°57’467) various fauna such as mammals, birds, fishes, from 17th to 24th of October and both sites are reptiles, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates located at Kenyir. (Nelson et al., 2000). Wetlands are considered among the most greatly impacted and degraded The Setiu Wetlands are situated in the habitats of all the ecological systems and these northeast of Peninsula Malaysia (Tamblyn et threatens the wetland birds worldwide (Hunter al., 2006) in the Terengganu state. The state has et al., 2001; Keller et al., 2003; Ma et al., 2009). 670,000 ha still remaining under forest cover Figure 1: Map point of migratory birds in several localities in Terengganu. BB=Belukar Bukit, SKU=Sekayu, FRIM=Forest Research Institute Research Station, TB=Tasik Berombak, KLN=Kampung Limau Nipis, PPB=Pulau Perhentian Besar J. Sustain. Sci. Manage. Volume 12(2) 2017: 135-160 AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 137 while 5,168 ha are selected to be converted into from weathered granite. This area of Gelam plantation (Krishnapillay & Ong, 2003). The consists of an area of monoculture with man- wetlands formed a portion of the Setiu river made irrigation and a small track network basin which consists of estuaries and delta, (Tamblyn et al., 2006). Wet gelam is intersped intertidal mudflats, sand flats and mangroves, with a dryer mix of Gelam dominated by grasses coastal brackish and saline lagoons and marshes, with scattered juvenile and the soil is sandy. Melaleuca swamp forest or freshwater swamp forests and vegetation compromising mostly Peatswamp Forest of Melaleuca cejeputi, lowland dry forest with This forest is made up ofa lasting remnant of Dipterocarps and Nipah palm characteristics inland peat swamp forest that has extended (Global Environment Facility, 1999). A field much further in the past (Tamblyn et al., 2006). survey has been conducted at Kampung Limau Acidic soils were permanently water-logged in Nipis (N05° 40’ 680” E102° 42’662”) from 5th this habitat. Dead vegetation will form a spongy to 15th of July 2015, Tasik Berombak (N05° layer and can accumulate up to 20 m thick. 39’23.1” E102º 43’18.6”) from 7 to 13th May Very dense understoreys (up to 10 – 15 m) and 2015 and Forest Research Institute Malaysia canopies formed (up to 20 m and above) due to (FRIM) (N 5° 32’ 50.606” E 102° 51’ 46.935”) the moist conditions. Dominant tree species in from 10th to 15th of January 2016 where three this area include Dipterocarps sp., Gonystylus sites are located in Setiu. sp., Durio s.p and Shorea sp which all species The Perhentian Island Archipelago is located have great commercial value. 21km off the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia, Terengganu. It is made up of 11 small islands Lowland Dipterocarp Forest with Pulau Perhentian Besar being the largest island with approximately 867 ha followed by Terengganu’s most extensive forest type and also Pulau Perhentian Kecil with 524 ha. Additional the most species-rich is the lowland dipterocarp islands off Perhentian Kecil are Susu Dara forest. Named due to its most dominant family Besar, Susu Dara Kecil, Rawa and Takong Laut. which is family Dipterocarps, various parts of All these islands together with their surrounding this state is coated by this forest type from the waters have been recently recognised as Marine sea level to about 300 m above sea level. The Parks (Tamblyn et al., 2005). A field survey has main canopy of this forest consists of trees been conducted in Perhentian Besar (N 5° 54’ dominated by Dipterocarps that can grow up to 9.767” E 102° 45’ 21.283”) from 14th to 20th of 20 – 35 m tall, while the emergent can reach a September 2015. height up to 40 m tall. These upper storeys shade a modest understorey layer of sapligs and trees such as Euphorbiaceae and Annonaceae. The Forest and Habitat Types of Study Sites with ground layer is often thin and consists of maily Migratory Species shrubs, climbers and herbs such as gingers, Melaleuca Forest palms, aroids, gesneriads and grasses. A forest with a seasonal freshwater swamp also known as Gelam (Melaleuca cajuputih) that Coastal Dipterocarp Forest can be seen to exist as two intrinsically linked Coastal dipterocarp forest is mainly consisting of subhabitat types: large sand “dunes” with limited exposed cliffs and species such as Bogak (Cycas vegetation (primarily melaleuca leucadendron) littoralis) and various Pandan (Pandanus) intersped with waterlogged forest. The species such as P. odoratissimus, P. dubius and formation is mainly consisting of beach ridges/ P.