Birdlife of a lake

A survey of birdlife in an urban lake recently reminded me of how similar that area is to Taman Rimba Kiara, ie, both urban open space, though one is land the other water, and the potential of this lake as perhaps an important bird area similar to what the taman is now.

We did this baseline survey of birdlife in this urban lake in KL which is reasonably large but hemmed in by housing estates and commercial activities so not easily accessible via land.

To my pleasant surprise our survey revealed a rich birdlife of both resident and migrant waterbirds and waders, in addition of course to the garden and open country birds although this survey was undertaken merely over a period of two mornings and one evening in a boat along the shoreline of the lake.  There would definitely be more sightings I believe if the survey was conducted over a longer duration and during different seasons too.

The other delightful sightings were of the Oriental Reed Warbler and the Common Sandpiper that came right up to a commercial waterfront area, fearless because of lack of human presence there then.

So it shows that we do not need people to be away in lockdown to get our wildlife to be out and about.  All it needs was our respect and distance from them so that they can lead their avian life in peace.

When this lockdown is over let us continue to afford the birds our respect and distance in order to ensure their due space among us, a space they deserve as much as us, if not more in many cases.

Evening was beautiful when the birds returned to roost.