The Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race 2008 will be held on 21 and 22 June 2008. The event this year is the 21st in its series. A brainchild of the Selangor Bird Group of the Malaysia Nature Society and the Fraser’s Hill Development Corporation and inaugurated in 1988 with only five teams of three birdwatchers, the Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race has become an important annual get-together amongst bird watchers and nature lovers worldwide. It has been featured in the bird watchers’ maps all over the world.

Fraser’s Hill is often been referred to as a first-class bird watching destination in this region, since this highland paradise is home to more than 250 species of wild birds. Come November and December each year, the virtually untouched mountainous forests of Fraser’s Hill will receive many species of newcomers, that is the migratory species that fly across from places as far as northern Siberia of Russia and islands north of Japan and neighbouring land mass, to seek new feeding grounds as well as to escape the freezing winter up north.

The sightings of Siberian thrush from Siberia are often reported and they are truly a rare treat to ardent bird watchers. Normally these migratory species stay around in Fraser’s Hill for a few months before migrating southwards to Australia and New Zealand. They will fly home to the north in March and April when it gets warmer.

Many rare and endangered species are often sighted in Fraser’s Hill. Endangered local species such as the wreathed hornbills and rhinoceros hornbills can be spotted at times. At certain times, rare endemic species too often make an appearance.

Bird watching is fast catching up especially in Fraser’s Hill. You need not be an expert to do bird watching. A bird book preferably with illustrations, a pair of binoculars and a torch light are all you need. Save for occasional tropical showers, you will have a whale of a time watching exotic birds in their natural habitat.

Bird watching is non-spectator activity. A bird race is a ‘fun race‘ where teams of three birdwatchers compete against each other in sighting, identifying and recording the most number of species (not birds!) within the boundaries of Fraser’s Hill which cover an area of 2,804 hectares of lush, virtually untouched tropical jungles, and subjected to stipulated ground rules set by the organizers.

This year, the competition will be divided into three distinctive categories – the advanced category for the serious and experienced bird watchers, the novice category and the student category for those who just take up bird watching out of curiosity or treat bird watching as an academic hobby. Prizes include bird books, binoculars, digital cameras, bush gears, field tents, etc.

There will be side events held to draw crowds to this cool and quiet highland retreat. Activities such as exhibitions relating to nature and birds, seminars and workshops on bird life and nature will be conducted to instill awareness to the general public that it is important to preserve nature for the enjoyment of future generations.

Bird watching is a healthy and academic outdoor sport. The objectives of the Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race are to preserve nature and simultaneously to promote Fraser’s Hill as a bird sanctuary. Even though there are other bird watching destinations in the country, Fraser’s Hill is still a preferred destination because large species of mountain birds thrive comfortably in the most conducive habitats here, and at certain times of the year, migratory birds make their presence felt, although briefly.

For more information, please contact:

Fraser’s Hill Development Corporation
JKR 300, Jalan Masjid, 25000 Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia
Tel: +609 517 1623 / 517 1624
Fax: +609 517 1626
E-mail: pkbf@streamyx.com / pkbf@tmnet.com.my
Website: www.pkbf.org.my