Raptor Watch 2015 Through My Eyes

This year is my 14th as a Malaysian Nature Society Raptor Watch Volunteer. 

Due to some issues with the state governments of Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, Raptor Watch was truncated into a one-day event for the first time ever this year. 

There were highs and lows to this. The highs were that transport was provided, and so there were fewer cars on the road that weekend. Also, it freed up time for us to do other things apart from volunteering with the MNS that weekend. 

The lows included the fact that one day is simply too little time for us to do conservation outreach and nature appreciation. Not having the event in Ilham Resort this year also meant that lunch had to be packed in plastic recyclable containers and delivered to us -- we didn't get a low-waste sit-down buffet the way we are used to. Having to set up and man our booths in the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve meant that we were more exposed to mosquitoes. 

However, it was cooler in the shade of the trees than in the hot event grounds of Ilham Resort, and I had the opportunity to take a break to explore the beach on the other side of the forest reserve.

Crowds thronging the Tg. Tuan Forest Reserve. Our booths and stalls were strategically placed along the paved jungle trail all the way up to the Lighthouse.

Green Living's booth was next to the Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers' (MYCAT). They had a little challenge of some sort going on.

Our diligent young volunteer Zhang En explaining the rules of her sister's Pinwheel Game to a visitor at our booth. Her little sister and mother could not volunteer this year due to a prior engagement, and I missed having them around.

Zhang En takes a break to climb up a pole.
As all children should.

Aravind and Zhang En manning the Green Living booth and explaining the rules of the games and conservation issues to the visitors.

Groups of young visitors from local schools and colleges visited our booth and played our conservation-related Carnival games. 

Pui May conducting tiger-related outreach for MYCAT.

I had the opportunity to take an hour off to go on a nature walk on my own when I saw that my experienced volunteers were running the booth rather smoothly and competently. Everyone was able to take turns to go off on walks of their own. I walked along the trail with my trusty rubbish claw and rubbish bags and picked up litter along the way. 

Visiting my friends Ilyas and Sumitra at the Nature Guides booth, where they were busy registering participants for the Jungle Walks and conducting the walks.

I picked up a large Macaranga leaf from the forest floor and used it to shade my head from the heat. 

 A pretty wild-looking Pandanus plant.

Booths at the foot of the steps to the Cape Rachado Lighthouse.

The MNS booth, manned by the Secretariat and the Science and Conservation Officers.

The MNS Selangor Bird Group registering participants for the upcoming My Garden Birdwatch.

Handmade plushies of the MY Garden Birdwatch mascot! Isn't this simply darling?

To make up for the fact that this year's Raptor Watch is just a one-day affair, the Melaka State Government actually gave visitors access to the lighthouse compound, which is otherwise a high security area off-limits to the public. 

I explored the trail to the left of the lighthouse. I knew it leads to the beach, but I have never been there and did not know how long the trek would be. 

The beach was secluded and highly beautiful. I could scarcely believe that this is a beach in Malaysia. What? No Ramly Burger stands, Family Day excursions, tonnes of litter, irresponsible and messy picnickers and balloons and styrofoam everywhere? How could this be!?!

I spotted what I had initially believed to be fossilised marine molluscs of some sort on some of the rocks on the beach. I was pretty excited to see this because digging up a real fossil has been on my Mighty Life List for ages. 

I learned later that they were a kind of barnacle, and not ancient or uncommon at all.

Phooey.

Glorious tree root formations formed natural steps for my trek back to the Green Living booth.

This was the absolute best moment of the day for me. Two teenagers, unbidden, went from booth to booth, collecting rubbish and picking up litter from the ground. I could have cried. I've been doing this alone for so long that I am gratified to see anyone who is not ashamed to pick up litter from places of natural and environmental interest. Good job and thank you, guys!

Lillian came over with her son Tristan and they played some of the games at the Green Living booth, including the 3R Target Shooting Game. I forgot to borrow CovertTwin's Nerf gun before the event, so I had to make do with pop guns from Daiso instead. The guns worked a treat, though.

May each Raptor Watch be better than the last.
CovertOps78, OUT. 

Raptor Watch 2014: People - Nature - Birds - We're All In This Together!

  

"But what's the use of roots if you can't spread them?
What's the use of wings if you can't fly?"
~ "What's the use of wings", by Brian Bedford.


The following is my brief review of Raptor Watch 2014, which took place last weekend (8th - 9th March 2014). This marks my 13th year as a Malaysian Nature Society Raptor Watch volunteer, and my 9th year as the coordinator of Green Living.

 

 

Raptor Watch and MNS have both come a long way (as an ecotourism event and environmental organisation, respectively) and the level of raptor awareness now is really very heartening to see. My hope for Raptor Watch is that it becomes more than just a tourist event and encourages and promotes citizen activism and hands-on volunteering. I hope to see more of the local community involved in surveys, data collection, beach cleanups, petitions and Citizen Science activities.

 

 

Good things that made Raptor Watch 2014 memorable, and which I hope will be repeated in the subsequent years:

 

(i) RIDE-SHARING! For the first time, the MNS Secretariat provided a bus in which to transport the staff and volunteers. I hope this will be continued in the interests of environmental responsibility and volunteer welfare.

 

(ii) Volunteer accommodation -- We got to stay in PNB Ilham Resort this time, which is a lot more convenient and comfortable than staying in other resorts and having to lug our things to the event grounds and back each day. I remember the early days when we had to stay in the deplorably run-down PD Marina apartments, and in the quaint government quarters where we had to cook and prepare our own meals after a long day of volunteering because meals weren't provided.

 

(iii) It was good to see more people being aware of the availability of the water refill stations, and most visitors and volunteers did come prepared with their own water bottles. It was also good that we did not provide cups, because this compelled people to reduce waste.

 

(iv) It was one of the most low-waste events ever, despite the sheer number of visitors. Most of the waste could be recycled or reused. I was, however, a bit concerned over the fact that not all the recycling bins provided by PNB Ilham Resort were put to use the way they were intended, and there wasn't enough waste separation going on. There's always room for improvement but I am happy we didn't do too badly, and the event on the whole was very professionally run thanks to Andrew and his capable team.

 

(v) It was good to see more of the local non-profit environmental organisations such as MYCAT and the Turtle Conservation Society being represented at this major ecotourism event. I hope in future we can also offer booths to CETDEM, Gerai OA and other local environmental groups for their fundraising, awareness and outreach work.

 

Raptor Watch 2014 Photodump:

Zhang En briefs visitors at the Green Living booth. I can retire and let her take over as coordinator now.

Green Living volunteers -- Zhang En, Aravind, Zhang Hui, Shannon, Illani and Liza -- having a powwow at our booth before the next batch of visitors arrive.

New posters for our booth -- Thanks to our graphic design maven, Liza Manshoor (who also happens to be one of my best friends and a very dedicated volunteer)!
 

MNS Nature Guides registering participants for the Jungle Walk at their booth.

It was good to see everyone making use of the Water Refill Stations!

 

Look who's here! Our friends Loretta and Rayven came all the way to Tanjung Tuan to support our efforts!

Wildlife snares and traps on display at the MYCAT (Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers) booth to raise awareness on wildlife crime.

Bird-themed merchandise at the MNS Bird Group's booth to raise funds for their educational activities and trips.

At the MY Garden Birdwatch registration booth. I received a free t-shirt as a token of appreciation as this is my 5th year as a MYGB participant.

Pelf Nyok and her awesome mum at the Turtle Conservation Society's booth. I did most of my shopping here ;)

The view of the PNB Ilham Resort swimming pool from our apartment unit.

 

The view of the event grounds from our apartment unit on the 3rd floor.

 

Meranti Tembaga (Shorea leprosula) -- one of my favourite indigenous rainforest trees.

 

Eunice, Liza and I walking up to the lighthouse after our official duties were over.
 

A big-ass mengkuang (Pandanus) plant in the forest reserve.
 

The Cape Rachado lighthouse viewed from a different angle.

 

A tree that caught my attention. My guess is that it is a Ficus racemosa. Would anyone be able to help me ID it?
 

Picking up litter along the jungle trail and around the lighthouse, as usual. Eunice was surprised to see the bin bag. She didn't realise that I bring bin bags with me wherever I go. Cleaning up nature spots has become a bit of an obsession with me.

 

Sunset over the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve and Straits of Melaka.
 

PNB Ilham at dusk.
 

Me, briefing the race marshalls and 'predators' on their roles and responsibilities before the Predator Run.  (Photo credits: Stephenie Cecilia of MNS)

 

 

My 'predators' were supposed to have eagle costumes but that didn't happen due to budget and time constraints so we made do with painted faces instead. I don't know how they ended up gators instead of raptors, though. But it's alright, the boys did a great job of catching the runners and ripping their race bracelets off. Even last year's race winner was not spared. All the runners were able to answer the environment-related questions I printed onto their race bracelets, so maybe I'll need to come up with more challenging questions next year. (Photo credits: Elena, MNS Events Manager)

Aravind and Zhang Hui were called up as finalists for one of the Lucky Draw prizes. Neither won, though, but it's alright guys, you'll always be winners in my eyes!