Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Birding at Loagan Bunut



As part of the Asian Waterbird Census 2012, we're organizing a trip to Loagan Bunut National Park.

Date : 4 - 5 February 2012
Time : Depart Miri mid morning on 4th Feb and back in Miri on 5th Feb in the evening.
Accomodation : Loagan Bunut National Park (dorm style)

Those interested or if you need more info, please contact Joyce (jvsivalingam@hotmail.com or mnsmiri@yahoo.com ) by 31 January 2012. Seats are subject to availability of volunteer drivers (4WD required). Needless to say, volunteer drivers are most welcomed.

Please note that all expenses will be on personal account. Common expenses such as food and boat rental will be split. Passengers are also expected to split fuel costs for the return trip from Miri to Loagan Bunut.

About Loagan Bunut:

Loagan Bunut, which centers around Sarawak’s largest natural lake, is one of the most unusual aquatic ecosystems in Malaysia. The lake normally covers an area of approximately 65 hectares. However when the water level in the adjacent Tinjar river is low, the shallow lake can drain completely, leaving a huge expanse of dried and cracked mud.

This unique cycle of flood and drought has created a remarkable food chain which supports a large variety of aquatic and terrestrial animals. As the lake dries up, many aquatic creatures escape into the Bunut river, which connects the lake to the Tinjar and Baram river. Nevertheless many remain behind and huge flocks of wading birds, primarily egrets, gorge themselves on the fish, frogs and shrimps that are trapped in shallow pools. When the lake is completely dry, grasses and herbs sprout from the mud, and are eaten by the larvae of insects that have laid their eggs in the mud. When the rains start again and the lake begins to fill up, returning fish feed on the larvae, breed in the lake, and the whole cycle begins again.

Source :
http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-loagan.html

About Asian Waterbird Census 2012 in Miri:
http://miribirding.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-call-volunteers-for-asian.html