World Migratory Bird Day marked in Tbong Khmum
Neang Sokunthea | Publication date 12 May 2023 | 11:07 ICT

The Ministry of Environment marked World Migratory Bird Day on May 10 in Tbong Khmum province to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and instil in the public the spirit of conservation and protecting birdlife.

With this year's theme "Water: Sustaining Birdlife", the day also aimed to raise public awareness on natural resource management and the conservation of migratory birds, their habitats and feeding grounds.

Ministry secretary of state Srun Darith said at the event that migratory birds have incredible physical traits to be able to fly long distances of more than thousands of kilometres.

“Tbong Khmum province has some important wetlands that have been designated protected areas, the Boeung Kade multi-purpose area in Kroch Chhmar district in particular.

"We are in the process of designating other areas as protected, including a bamboo forest, a flooded forest and the Kapi wetlands,” Darith said.

Migratory birds depend heavily on wetland resources that are facing threats such as growing human demand for water, water pollution and climate change, the ministry said.

The Boeung Kade multi-purpose area spans 1.643ha and sustains many species of birds, and plays a crucial role as a feeding ground for migratory species.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... bong-khmum

Boeung Tonle Chhmar, an Important Foraging Habitat for Waterbirds in Tonle Sap
AKP Phnom Penh, May 15, 2023 --
Boeung Tonle Chhmar is an important foraging habitat for waterbirds in Tonle Sap, according to a news release of NatureLife Cambodia.

In early May 2023, the source pointed out, NatureLife Cambodia team conducted a rapid monitoring trip to Boeung Tonle Chhmar Ramsar site and recorded the list of waterbird species foraging at Tonle Chhmar Lake.

Tonle Chhmar is a large lake surrounded by flooded forest located in the middle of Boeung Tonle Chhmar Ramsar site and is also a source of food for thousands of waterbirds and local livelihood, especially between March until June when water begins to recede, it added.

“Our trip recorded included the Black-tailed godwit, the Glossy Ibis, Black-head Ibis, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Spot-billed Duck, Black-winged Stilt… Asian openbill forage in the flocks of thousands. Our team also recorded the increasing of people who conduct small shell fishing in this lake,” it said.

Since 2021, NatureLife Cambodia has been supporting park rangers and community-protected area in Boeung Tonle Chhmar Ramsar site in regular patrols to monitor biodiversity and oversee natural resource crimes under the financial support by the European Union.

By C. Nika

Cambodia River Tern Population on Stable Trend, Towards Future Rise
AKP Phnom Penh, May 25, 2023 --
The latest survey report by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shows that the number of river terns in the Mekong has been stable in the past two years.

The total number of the birds recorded so far is 74, including three newly-hatched -- an encouraging increase of about 130 percent compared to its population of 31 seven years ago, said the report.

The survey of the river terns was led by a team of WWF researchers between February and April this year found 31 nests of the river terns along the Mekong areas in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.

The stable population of the river bird living safely implies hope for its existence after it had dropped worryingly by 80 percent in the last 20 years due to human-caused threats.

It is a positive sign for not only in Cambodia but also the world as the river terns was listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and considered as one of the rarest birds in Southeast Asia.

The positive trend of the river tern existence in Cambodia was credited to strong participation of the community people in the conservation activities.

The conservation was led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and WWF through the Community-based Bird Nest Protection Programme supported by the Government of Belgium (DGD) and WWF Belgium and the Climate Resilient by Nature (CRxN) Programme funded by Australian Government and WWF-Australia.

Article in Khmer by Rithy
Article in English by Lim Nary
- AKP

Thirteen Chicks of White-Shouldered Ibis Recorded in 2022-2023 Breeding Season
AKP Phnom Penh, May 29, 2023 --
In the 2022-2023 breeding season of the white-shouldered ibis, a total of 13 nests, of which 8 were successfully hatched with 13 chicks, were recorded at Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS).
This good news was resulted from the efforts of NatureLife Cambodia in collaboration with LWS rangers and local communities in finding and protecting this critically endangered species’ nest.

Photo Naturelife Cambodia
According to the NatureLife Cambodia’s news release on Sunday, the number of nests in this breeding season has increased compared to the breeding season in the last 5 seasons, which is a good sign for LWS to support the life and reproduction of this species.

However, it added, the number of failed nests is still on the concerning scale. Most of the factors that lead to failure are unknown and some are found to be disrupted by human activities that forced the birds to abandon their nests. Disturbance from other predators such as crows, kites, and hawks are also a major cause of nest failure

NatureLife Cambodia is collaborating with rangers in doing protection patrols and increasing the number of awareness-raising activities to enhance the participation of local people to protect this endangered species in Cambodia, said the same source, thanking Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and BirdLife-Vangard for supporting this conservation activity.
By Phal Sophanith
AKP

Seventeen Nests of Lesser Adjutant Recorded in 2022 Breeding Season
AKP Phnom Penh, June 21, 2023 --
A total of 17 nests of Lesser adjutant were recorded in Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS) by the end of 2022 breeding season, according to a news release of NatureLife Cambodia this morning.

Sixteen (16) nests of Lesser adjutant were successfully fledged with 27 chicks, the source said, adding that one nest was confirmed as a failure due to an unknown reason.

The good news was resulted from the efforts of NatureLife Cambodia in collaboration with LWS rangers and local communities in finding and protecting the critically endangered species’ nests.


Lesser adjutant builds their nests in a colony and the biggest colony this year consisted of 6 nests, the news release pointed out.
This result shows that Lomphat is one of the important sites to ensure the survival of this vulnerable species, it underlined.
By Phal Sophanith
AKP

132 Bird Species Recorded at Boeung Prek Lpov Protected Landscape
AKP Phnom Penh, June 29, 2023 --

A total of 132 bird species have been recorded at the Boeung Prek Lpov Protected Landscape (BPL) in Takeo province, pointed out a report on the State of Key Bird Species released recently by NatureLife Cambodia.

“The bird species in BPL was recorded 132 species inside protected area but the population recorded is for only 101 species. The other bird in the recorded list has not recorded its population properly or been seen by photographers. The population trend of bird species was monitored from 2003 to 2021 and was performed up and down. The population trend of most key bird species slightly increased from 2003 to 2016 and started to drop down towards,” said the 37-page report.

Only two species were recorded increased surprisingly, the yellow-breasted Bunting use BPL as wintering site and the Asian Openbill was use BPL as nesting site, it added.

Fourteen (14) of the 132 bird species recorded were listed as globally threatened species, the source underlined.

According to the report, BPL is still very valuable for its biodiversity. It is a big remaining seasonal grassland located in Lower Mekong Delta of Cambodia. This wetland is home to several species, including Critically Endanger Species, endangered species, Vulnerable, near threatened, and leas concern species. The biggest known populations of Critically Endangered, Yellow-Breasted Bunting have been recorded in BPL and probably in Southeast Asia. It also supports the part of the Crane Population in wintering site in Lower Mekong Delta. From November to January most of the Sarus Crane population in Lower Mekong Delta feeding in BPL before moving to Anlung Pring in February.
- AKP

Sarus Cranes: Crane Ricefield Project (UPDATE)

An update from the field!
Our conservation partners NatureLife Cambodia Organization and BirdLife International recently shared good news on the Crane Rice project, a community scheme they have been piloting since 2021.
Over the last two years, they have worked closely with the local communities, growing the number of Crane Rice farmers from 41 to 119 families, and the size of Crane Rice fields from 37 hectares to 125 hectares. The Crane Rice project encourages farmers from villages surrounding the Anlung Pring Protected Landscape in Kampot Province, Cambodia to adopt sustainable farming practices that protect habitats of the threatened Sarus Crane and benefits local livelihoods.
With the increase in the size of Crane Rice fields, most rice fields in the area are now registered under the project, forming a safe buffer zone while also serving as a vital food source for the Sarus Crane populations.
Photos: Vann Seyha, Soeurn Theara

Cambodia sees rise in population of rare crane
Source: Xinhua
2023-08-01 10:12:15

This photo taken on July 28, 2023 shows a sarus crane flying at a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia. (Lay Darith/Cambodian Ministry of Environment/Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recorded 180 globally vulnerable sarus cranes in its latest census, a significant increase from 156 birds last year, Neth Pheaktra, secretary of state for the Ministry of Environment, said on Monday.

The annual sarus crane census was conducted by the ministry in cooperation with NatureLife Cambodia, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the International Crane Foundation from December to May at various regions across the country, he said.


"The latest census recorded the highest number of cranes in February at 180 individuals," Pheaktra told Xinhua.

"The new figure shows a positive sign compared to 156 cranes recorded in the 2022 census and 161 cranes in the 2021 census," he said.

The sarus crane is the tallest flying bird standing up to 1.65 meters tall. It is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as vulnerable because its global population is rapidly declining due to widespread degradation and destruction of wetland habitats, human exploitation, and the effects of pollutants and poisons.

In Cambodia, the cranes are present at the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces, the Anlong Pring protected landscape in Kampot province and the Boeung Prek Lapouv protected landscape in Takeo province.■

hanno wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 1:56 pm

Pseudonomdeplume wrote: ↑Fri May 27, 2022 1:10 pm

hanno wrote: ↑Thu May 26, 2022 3:04 pm

Pseudonomdeplume wrote: ↑Thu May 26, 2022 2:21 pm What's the story with those oversized Toucans. Are they migratory? I still have the image of the first one I saw - eye-sore - flying close to my balcony and making eye contact. Aesthetically challenged, I'm sure they find each other attractive.

No Toucans in Cambodia or Asia. I guess you mean the Hornbills? Pets of some VIP in PP. They are not migratory but travel far for food.

Weird, I saw a dozen or so Hornbills yesterday, after my post. They were flying low over the traffic and near buildings, and look clumsy, and I probably watched them for about 15 minutes. One was on a thin branch, eating. They look heavy and the branch was straining, so I waited for his take-off which I figured would require more pressure on the limb. But he actually didn't push off; he just dropped, wings spread, and swooped into flight. Not his first rodeo.

May have been a her.

I am guessing they were Great Hornbills. I've seen big flocks in trees that looked to fragile to support a sparrow, never mind a fully-grown Hornbill weighing in at 3kg. Males and females can actually be told apart: the casque of a female is somewhat smaller and lacks the black front of the male.



Female



Male

Spotted today





And he was making a bit of noise.