Teluk Bako-Buntal recognised as one of Malaysia’s 55 Important Bird Areas

Len Talif (centre) taking a group photo after the presentation of souvenirs to one of the guests during the World Migratory Bird Day programme while Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton (left) and others look on. Photo: Ukas

KUCHING, Oct 15: Teluk Bako-Buntal has been recognised as one of Malaysia’s 55 Important Bird Areas (IBA).

According to a news report from Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) today, Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datu Len Talif Salleh said Teluk Bako-Buntal was nominated as Malaysia’s first Flyway site (EAAF112) under the East-Asian Australasia Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).

ā€œSarawak Selabat Mudflats Nature Reserve (SMNR), which is part of Telok Bako-Buntal, is located on the EAAFP Network for migratory birds that have been recognised internationally as a very important site for these migratory birds to stopover for feeding and continue their journey to the South during the winter migration,ā€ he said during the opening ceremony of the World Migratory Bird Day programme held at the Sarawak State Library (Pustaka) today.

Len Talif noted among the bird species that often stop at Bako-Buntal Bay include the great knot, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Far Eastern Curlew, and Chinese Egret.

He said a few of these migratory birds would fly from America and Alaska to Australia and New Zealand during the winter to the Northern part.

ā€œMost of them will stop along the way, including in Bako-Buntal Bay,ā€ he added. ā€” DayakDaily