The sighting of a rare Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer with a combination of coloured bands on its legs at Penang’s Teluk Air Tawar-Kuala Muda Important Bird Area (IBA) has confirmed the international importance of the site for globally endangered migratory shorebirds.

Bukit Kiara Federal Park stands as a testament to the resilience of nature in the face of urbanisation. This comprehensive survey has revealed a diverse and vibrant avian community right in the bounds of Kuala Lumpur. The study showcases the park's ecological significance and the importance of preserving green spaces within rapidly developing urban areas. As urbanisation continues, fostering avian diversity requires a delicate balance between habitat conservation, ecological management practices, and awareness among the local community. By nurturing the regenerative processes and promoting the park’s preservation we can ensure that Bukit Kiara's avian diversity thrives for generations to come.

It is possible that large numbers of migratory birds stop over transiently or for longer periods on ships. Ornithologists have an opportunity not just to study this aspect of migration but to offer guidance to shipping companies on the care and salvage of exhausted and injured birds. Of importance is a continual, systematic and comprehensive monitoring of the impact of ships on migratory birds with a view to develop strategies to reduce adverse impacts on birds. Working with the navy would be a good start.

The combination of high demand-no regulation unfortunately spells trouble for the Oriental Magpie-Robin, with thousands of birds entering the illegal trade chain. It faces a double whammy from illicit domestic and international trade. Just because the species is common today, we should not take for granted that this will always be the case. Before such a point of no return is reached, control measures for legal trapping and sustainable trade along the source-to-market chain must be introduced now. The future of the Oriental Magpie-Robins depends on it.

‘Listen to the Birds to Save Mangroves’ emphasises the critical role of birds as indicators of mangrove forest health, particularly in Malaysia. The article highlights the interconnectedness of birdlife and mangrove conservation. It draws attention to the alarming loss of mangroves, specifically back mangroves, its implications for both avian diversity and the ecosystem as a whole and advocates for conservation strategies that prioritise both. The article also highlights the potential of bird watching and ecotourism to support mangrove conservation.

Over a period of five weeks, 31 pet shops were visited and assessed throughout the country. 21 were not on the list of registered pet shops by state from PERHILITAN. The total number of birds on sale in the 31 pet shops was estimated at 4,579. The bird trade online was even larger but harder to evaluate. This survey has shown that the demand for birds as pets remains high and helps to drive the bird trade. The survey showed that some sellers also operated more covertly, based on their assertions that new supply for protected species will be available, or they had more birds stored in different locations.

Rantaian Urban Green Spaces (RUGS) is borne on a premise that existing fragmented green spaces could be reconnected and rehabilitated to create a network of physical and ecological pathways to restore these fractured portions of the natural habitats of animals. RUGS’s first flora and fauna survey of this three-year project under the aegis of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) was conducted over a period of approximately eight weeks in July to August 2023, and included a birdlife diversity assessment. Forest reserves, secondary forests, community forests, recreational parks and gardens comprise the survey sites.

The Oriental Magpie-Robin’s melodious song, once a staple of Malaysia’s forests, is being silenced by the weight of a booming songbird trade. Demand is both domestic and from Indonesia, and enabled by gaps in Malaysian laws. The bird remains a popular pet in Peninsular Malaysia as no laws prevent harvesting from the wild, ownership, breeding and sale. The trade is also thriving online, with songbirds found for sale on many platforms. With sales growing as a result of song contests, increasing in frequency in Malaysia and Indonesia in recent years, conservationists warn of declining wild populations.

The Red-whiskered Bulbul was “removed from the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716] during the amendment to the Act’s Schedules in 2012. A new type of bird-singing competition has further fuelled the fervour to own these birds. In Kelantan, this bird stands out as the most in-demand pet, according to bird sellers and customers interviewed. The songbird trade and song competitions in the region are major drivers pushing this songbird species towards extinction.

The photo essay was produced as part of the Macaranga Mentorship on Covering Wildlife Trade and Crime, supported by Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN). Text and Photos are by Mukhriz Hazim.

The Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG) are committed to understanding and protecting barn owls through science, education, and collaboration. The main goal of the group is to conserve Eastern Barn Owls in Malaysia and raise awareness on the role of barn owls as effective biological control agents of rat pest populations; hence promoting sustainable practices to control pest species in agriculture and urban settings. To achieve these goals, BORG actively conducts research related to Eastern Barn Owls and rats.

Barn Owls are used to achieve biological control of rats. The development of nest boxes came about as it was recognised that Eastern Barn Owl population densities were limited by available nest sites. Artificial nest boxes were accepted by Barn Owls and populations increased with availability of nesting sites at oil palm plantations and padi fields. We urgently require surveys on the current population of the species, population trends over time, the number and quality of nesting boxes and the impact of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides.

Malaysian Nature Society participated at the Chinese Crested Tern Conservation Volunteer Service Program and International Volunteer Service Ningbo Exchange Conference. Held in Xiangshan County, Ningbo, China. The event brought together NGOs and volunteer organizations from across the region to collaborate on the conservation of the critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern Thalasseus bernsteini.

Kinta Nature Park is a key ecotourism destination in Perak. The gazetted park comprises close to 400 hectares (within a larger ~900 ha of former mining lands) and is a rich, biodiverse wetland habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The eBird checklist documents 137 resident and migratory bird species observed at the park (as of June 2026). It is of particular importance as a protected nesting site for wetland birds like the Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster and the Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger. It is considered one of the largest heronries in Malaysia for the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, as well as other heron and egret species.

A reporting system for bird-building collisions in Malaysia.
Glass is a silent killer of at least a billion birds worldwide. These mortality rates may go unnoticed if not documented, especially in Southeast Asia. With improved understanding through reporting of bird-building collision or bird strike incidents in Malaysia, we will be better equipped to reduce the number of fatalities caused by our buildings.