Preliminary Result of Research on White-shouldered Ibis in Lomphat Wilddlife Sanctuary Released
AKP Phnom Penh, January 22, 2021 --

An update of the white-shouldered ibis exploring and monitoring in Lomphat Wilddlife Sanctuary has been released by BirdLife International Cambodia Programme.

The critically endangered white-shouldered ibis is present the whole year and breeds in Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, it underlined.

“The breeding season of this bird is the dry season from December to April. In early 2020-2021 breading season, our team in Lomphat have found five nests of white-shouldered ibis,” the report said.

“Our field monitoring team is monitoring and exploring for new nests, by far, the four nests are incuubating, while one nest failed due to the bird of prey eating their eggs,” it added.

Habitat (foraging and nesting) loss and human disturbance are the main threats to this bird species.
By Heng Panha, AKP

From: https://ebird.org/species/whsibi1

Waterbird Census in Two Important Areas Concluded
AKP Phnom Penh, February 03, 2021 --

The waterbird census in Boeung Prek Lapov and Anlong Pring Protected Landscape have been concluded by BirdLife International Cambodia Programme.

"In January, our team conducted the waterbirds census at these two important wetlands. 65 species were recorded in Boeung Prek Lapov and 45 species were recorded in Anlong Pring," it said.

According to BirdLife International Cambodia Programme's report, no black face spoonbill was recorded (2012 was the last recorded of this species in Boeung Prek Lapov). Climate change contributes to water run out from this landscape quickly. Human activities create more disturbance.
(Photo: BirdLife International Cambodia Programme)
By Heng Panha
AKP

Bird census shows absences and returns
Khouth Sophak Chakrya | Publication date 03 February 2021 | 22:04 ICT

Bird researchers and conservationists in Cambodia said the rare and endangered black-faced spoonbill remains elusive in the Boeung Prek Lapouv and Anlong Pring protected landscapes in southwestern Cambodia.

However, the yellow-breasted bunting – which is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List – has now reappeared after an absence with observations made of more than 20 of the birds in those two wetlands areas.

BirdLife International’s Cambodia Programme Manager Bou Vorsak told The Post on February 3 that in 2011 and 2012 their organisation’s experts found and recorded 10 black-faced spoonbills in the Boeung Prek Lapouv wetlands in Takeo province.

He told The Post that in 2015 only one of them was spotted, and since then they have not been able to find any black-faced spoonbills in the wetlands areas.

“For the 2021 bird census, again this year we still can’t find any presence of black-faced spoonbills in the Boeung Prek Lapouv protected wetlands. But we can’t yet conclude that this species is totally extinct in Cambodia without a firmer scientific basis for that claim,” Vorsak said.

According to Vorsak, the 2021 bird census in Cambodia was conducted only in the protected wetlands areas of Boeung Prek Lapouv in Takeo province and Anlong Pring in Kampot province rather than across the entire country.

The census began in mid-January and the team from BirdLife – with assistance from Ministry of Environment rangers assigned to guard the protected wetlands – found 64 species of wild birds in Boeung Prek Lapouv and 45 species in Anlong Pring.
More: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... nd-returns

A Giant Ibis Rescued
AKP Phnom Penh, February 08, 2021 --

A giant ibis has been rescued by the BirdLife team in Lomphat (Rattanakiri province) and Ministry of Environment Rangers based at O’ Roha station while conducting a joint patrol and monitoring along key Trapeangs.

According to a news release on social media of BirdLife International Cambodia Programme, on Friday last week, while arriving Trapeang Krapeu Skom, they found a three-member family of Giant Ibis, unfortunately one of them was trapped with a snare.

“This bird could fly only 15 metres high to perch on the tree at the edge of Trapeang. Rangers climbed the tree to help immediately, the bird was seriously injured on the right leg and weak,” it added.

On Feb. 7, the same source continued, with support from a wildlife rescue team of ACCB (Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity based in Siem Reap province), the bird is doing well. When the bird completely recovers, the team will release it to the natural habitat.

Giant Ibis is the national bird of Cambodia and critically endangered (only less than 200 mature individuals remain).
- AKP

This was posted on the social media page of WWF-Cambodia on 11 February 2021:


As one of the rarest bird species in South East Asia, the River Tern population in the Mekong landscape has doubled over the past five years, from only 31 birds in 2016 to 68 individuals in early 2021.

In Cambodia, River Terns have decreased by 80% in the past 20 years, with the nation-wide population was estimated between 54 and 62 individuals in 2018. The main threats to the species include habitat disturbance by human activities, nest flooding, hunting for their eggs by human and other animal predators. For this reason, the IUCN has recently reclassified the bird status to a higher category, from “Near Threatened” to “Vulnerable” in their Red List.

WWF’s bird surveys are made possible with the funding support from the Government of Belgium (DGD) and WWF-Belgium.
Read our press release about the bird here: https://bit.ly/3a5l03D

Waterbird Census: More Than 20 Species Recorded in Stung Sen Ramsar Site
AKP Phnom Penh, February 14, 2021 --

In January 2021, the Asian Waterbird Census was conducted at Stung Sen Ramsar Site in Kampong Thom province, according to BirdLife International Cambodia Programme.

This biodiversity monitoring has been organised regularly by Stung Sen Ramsar Site rangers with support from BirdLife and NatureLife Cambodia.

Twenty-one (21) bird species were recorded during this year's census period. Three of them are globally threatened species including Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Oriental Darter, Spot-billed Pelican.

Critically Endangered Indochinese Silvered Langur (10 individuals) were also discovered.

"The number of recorded species is lower than last years and our team notes that the water level at this Ramsar site was still high, that is why there was still not a suitable feeding ground for waterbirds to forage," said the same source.

BirdLife International Cambodia Programme expressed thanks to The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Small Grant and Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund for the financial support of these activities.
- AKP

Asking the experts - chicken or cock ? Very handsome either way.