Kuala Gula destinasi burung migrasi

Rencana dan gambar oleh AZMAN MD. NOOR

PELANCONG mengambil kesempatan melihat burung botak kecil di kawasan Kuala Gula.

KETIKA menyusuri kawasan hutan paya laut, kelihatan burung botak kecil, burung upeh, kedidi berkaki merah dan bangau besar sedang tenang mencari makan di sepanjang kawasan paya laut yang sedang surut di Kuala Gula.

Tidak terlepas pandangan ialah helang merah berterbangan di udara manakala lotong kelabu, belacak, sekendi kepala besar dan kera di sekitar Ban Joo Kaw hingga ke Teluk Rubiah turut sibuk mengalas perut menandakan kawasan ini mempunyai banyak hidupan liar dan ratusan spesies burung.

Rekod Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (Perhilitan) mencatatkan terdapat sebanyak 192 spesies meliputi spesies burung yang hijrah dan juga spesies burung residen yang boleh ditemui sepanjang tahun di kawasan ini.

Kuala Gula antara 55 kawasan di Malaysia yang dikenalpasti sebagai Important Bird Area(IBA) melalui beberapa kriteria termasuk penghijrahan burung dari kawasan sejuk.

Aktiviti paling utama ialah pemerhatian burung bermula pada Ogos sehingga April setiap tahun dan menyaksikan lain-lain hidupan liar sekali gus kawasan ini antara kawasan penting populasi spesies pelbagai burung.

Migrasi burung di dunia dan Malaysia terletak dalam laluan East Asian-Australian Flyway bermula dari Siberia melalui China, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Jepun, Korea, Vietnam, Kemboja seterusnya ke Thailand, Malaysia ,Singapura, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia dan berakhir di New Zealand.

Apabila musim sejuk berakhir di Hemisfera Utara burung-burung ini akan kembali semula ke Siberia untuk membiak melalui laluan yang sama dan akan berulang setiap tahun.

Sesetengah burung ini terbang sejauh 10,000 kilometer (6,200 batu) semasa musim penghijrahan.

Mengapa Kuala Gula menjadi pilihan untuk migrasi burung-burung ini? Kuala Gula sebahagian daripada 40,000 hektar hutan Simpan Paya bakau matang yang mempunyai pantai berlumpur dan pokok-pokok bakau.

Hutan simpan ini terkawal dengan amalan sistem pengurusan hutan bakau yang terbaik di dunia.

Keadaan flora dan fauna dengan spesis tumbuhan seperti bakau minyak, bakau kurap, api-api putih,api-api jambu, api-api ludat, teruntum putih, perepat, nipah,piai raya selain pelbagai spesies teratai menarik perhatian banyak spesis burung memilih kawasan ini sebagai hidupan yang boleh dilihat di kawasan ini.

Faunanya hutan bakau dengan habitat yang dapat menampung spesies hidupan liar selain burung mamalia kecil, reptilia, ketam, udang dan ikan menjadikan kawasan ini lebih menarik.

Hutan bakau dan beting lumpur menyediakan habitat yang sesuai dan sumber makanan yang mencukupi untuk spesies burung ini, selain menyediakan kawasan yang sesuai untuk spesies residen membiak dan mengekalkan diri mereka dengan sesuai dikawasan itu.

Antara spesies burung yang banyak terdapat di kawasan itu ialah bangau kendi, bangau kerbau, burung botak kecil, upeh, helang siput, camar kecil, camar topi hitam kedidi kaki hijau ,kedidi kaki merah, kedidi pasir dan pisau raut.

Juga terdapat pucong seriap, pucong serambu dan burung upeh yang populasinya telah dipantau oleh Perhilitan sejak tahun 1980an lagi.

Dua kawasan utama yang sering direkodkan dengan kehadiran burung Upeh ialah pulau Kelumpang dan pulau Terung mudah dilihat mencari makan di kawasan tasik dan bertenggek di atas pokok atau terbang berlegar-legar di udara.

Satu lagi spesies ialah botak kecil yang diklasifikasikan di bawah burung-burung liar yang dilindungi.

Terdapat 19 spesies burung botak di seluruh dunia dengan 10 daripadanya boleh didapati di Asia Tenggara.

Spesies burung upeh dan botak kecil, sekendi kepala hitam dan kedidi kaki hijau boleh ditemui dengan mudah di persisir Kuala Gula.

Di Malaysia spesies-spesies ini dilindungi oleh Akta Perlindungan Hidupan Liar 76/72.

Namun bagi International Union for Concervation of Nature (IUCN) atau Kesatuan Antarabangsa untuk Pemuliharaan Alam telah mengkelaskan burung upeh dan botak kecil dan kedidi kaki hijau sebagai terancam.

Ancaman utama kawasan ini ialah kemusnahan habitat akibat gangguan manusia, dan pencemaran yang memerlukan perhatian semua pihak supaya kawasan populasi burung utama tidak terjejas sekali gus kawasan yang popular ini tidak lagi hanya tinggal nama. Kewujudan Pusat Konservasi Hidupan Liar (Burung Laut) Kuala Gula semenjak tahun 1985 bertujuan menjalankan aktiviti konservasi.

Menurut Penolong Pegawai Perhilitan Kuala Gula, Zainuddin Busrah, kewujudan pusat ini bukan sahaja dari aspek penguatkuasaan malah termasuk meninjau burung dan kajian-kajian berkaitan burung air.

Katanya, program pendidikan dan kesedaran awam kepada masyarakat khususnya pelajar-pelajar turut dijalankan di pusat ini.

“Pusat ini bertujuan untuk aktiviti konservasi dan menyediakan program pendidikan serta kesedaran awam khususnya kepada pelajar-pelajar dan masyarakat,” katanya.

spesis hidupan liar

Selain itu menurut Zainuddin, pusat tersebut turut menyediakan maklumat mengenai Kuala Gula terutamanya mengenai burung-burung laut dalam bentuk pameran dan diorama disediakan untuk kemudahan pelawat.

Ceramah dan tayangan video mengenai proses migrasi burung dan spesis hidupan liar lain di Kuala Gula boleh dilihat dan ditonton semasa kunjungan ke pusat tersebut.

Pemerhatian burung antara aktiviti paling utama di Kuala Gula dan lain-lain hidupan liar terutama pada bulan Ogos hingga April setiap tahun.

Waktu sesuai untuk pemerhatian burung ialah pada waktu air laut mulai pasang kerana pada waktu begini kebanyakan burung boleh dilihat di tepi air dan kawasan beting lumpur.

Malah aktiviti pemerhatian burung boleh dilakukan sama ada secara berjalan kaki sepanjang ban atau menaiki bot di sepanjang anak sungai dan beting lumpur.

Bot boleh disewa daripada penduduk tempatan atau calet berdekatan dengan harga berpatutan.

Bukan sahaja pemerhatian burung kelebihan Kuala Gula ialah memerhati kelip-kelip pada waktu malam juga antara aktiviti menarik.

Pelancong juga boleh melakukan aktiviti memancing pelbagai spesies ikan seperti kerisi (Nemipterus spp),duri (Arius spp) dan sembilang (Plotosus spp).

Seperti kawasan pelancongan lain usaha menjadikan Kuala Gula lebih istimewa dan terkenal perlu diperluaskan lagi oleh pihak tertentu termasuk kerajaan negeri.

Persatuan pencinta alam seperti Global Environment Centre (GEC) yang diketuai Balu Perumal dan kumpulannya antara persatuan aktif yang kerap kali turun membuat kajian, pemerhatian supaya kawasan ini tidak lagi terabai sehingga burung hijrah dan habitat dikawasan itu tiada lagi.

Malah Sahabat Hutan Bakau (SHB) sebagai komuniti nelayan di Kuala Gula yang diterajui Zakaria Mohamad, 50, memungkinkan persoalan ini terjawab. Begitu juga ahli Kelab Pencinta Alam(KPA) Kedah atas inisiatif pengerusinya, S. Kalaimani bersama pelajar yang juga ahli KPA SMK Teloi Kanan Baling diketuai Pengetuanya, Noriah Bahari dengan 200 ahlinya setiap bulan datang dengan perbelanjaan sendiri bagi menjayakan hasrat menyelamatkan kawasan hutan paya laut sejak tahun 2007 lagi.

Seperti kata S. Kalaimani, menjaga alam sekitar termasuk habitatnya sudah menjadi satu tanggungjawab besar terutama mendidik generasi muda seperti pelajar SMk Teloi Kanan ini.

Mampukah SHB, pelajar SMK Teloi Kanan bersama GEC ini bersendirian melakukan perubahan di Kuala Gula.

Penghuni alam di Kuala Gula perlu diselamatkan dan sudah sampai masanya mesej menjadikan alam lebih terjamin disahut oleh semua pihak.

Pencinta dan kajian mengenai spesis burung di kawasan itu boleh diperluas kerana dari segi geografinya mengapa kawasan ini telah menjadi lokasi persinggahan tetap burung dari kesejukan hemisfera utara.

Apakah bakau, kawasan paya laut, beting lumpur dan air pasang surut di Kuala Gula menjadi kelebihan burung hijrah ini? Kuala Gula perlu diangkat statusnya menjadi kawasan utama dunia mengenai spesies burung.

TOURIST taking advantage of a small bald spot birds in the sanctuary.WHILE down the mangrove swamps, appear to be small storks, birds Stork, Red-legged kedidi is quiet and great egret feeding along the mangrove areas are receding at Kuala Gula.

Do not miss the view is the red eagle hovering in the air while lotong gray, belacak, jugful big head and monkey around Kaw Ban Joo to cover the Gulf Rubiah stomach was busy marking the area has many wild animals and hundreds of bird species.

Records of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Wildlife) there were 192 recorded species of birds including the migratory and resident bird species are also found throughout the area.

Kuala Gula among 55 areas in Malaysia which is identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by several criteria, including the migration of birds from the cold.

The main activity is the observation of birds began in August and April every year and see the other wildlife of this area once the important areas a variety of bird species populations.

Migratory birds in the world and Malaysia is located in the East Asian-Australian routes from Siberia Flyway through China, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, then to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and ending in New Zealand.

When winter ends in the Northern Hemisphere birds will be returned to Siberia to breed through the same route and will be repeated annually.

Some of these birds fly as far as 10.000 kilometers (6.200 miles) during the migration season.

Why Kuala Gula choice for the migration of these birds? Kuala Gula part of the 40,000 hectares of mangrove forest Reserve has done a coastal mudflats and mangroves.

Jungle is controlled by the practice management system, mangrove forests are the best in the world.

State of flora and fauna of mangrove plant species, such as oil, mangrove ringworm, the fires of white, pink fires, fires ludat, teruntum white, perepat, Nipah, Piai highway as well as various species of lotus attract many species of birds chose this area a life that can be seen in this area.

Fauna of the mangrove habitat that can accommodate wildlife species other than birds small mammals, reptiles, crabs, shrimp and fish make this area more attractive.

Mangroves and mud shoal provide a suitable habitat and adequate food sources for birds, in addition to providing a suitable area for resident species to reproduce and sustain themselves with the appropriate area.

Among the many bird species found in the jars were herons, storks buffalo, small storks, Stork, eagles snails, little gull, gull black hat kedidi green legs, red legs kedidi, kedidi sand and blade shape.

There is also a pucong seriap, pucong serambu and the Stork bird populations have been monitored by the Wildlife Department since the 1980s.

Two main areas are often recorded in the presence of bird Stork Shell Island and the island is easily seen Eggplant feed in the lake area and perched in trees or flying hover-hanging in the air.

Another species is classified as a small bald under the wild birds are protected.

There are 19 species of storks in the world with 10 of them can be found in Southeast Asia.

Stork bird species and small bald, black head and kedidi jugful green legs can easily be located in the coastal sanctuary.

In Malaysia, this species is protected by the Wildlife Protection Act 76/72.

However, the International Union for Concervation of Nature (IUCN) or the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the bird Stork and the small bald and green legs kedidi as endangered.

The main threat is the destruction of habitat due to human disturbance and pollution of concern to all the major areas of bird populations is not affected once the area is popular not only a name. The existence of Wildlife Conservation Center (Sea Bird) Kuala Gula since 1985 aimed at carrying out conservation activities.

According to Assistant Wildlife Officer of Kuala Gula, Zainuddin Busrah, the existence of this center not only in terms of enforcement but also explore the birds and related studies of water birds.

He said public education and awareness programs to the community, especially the students were also conducted at these centers.

"The center is aimed at the conservation activities and provide educational programs and public awareness, especially to students and the community," he said.

Wildlife Species

In addition, according to Zainuddin, the center also provides information on the Kuala Gula, particularly on seabirds in the form of exhibits and dioramas are provided for the convenience of visitors.

Lecture and video presentation about the process of migrating birds and other wildlife species in the Kuala Gula can be seen and viewed during a visit to the center.

Observations of birds among the most important activities at the Kuala Gula and other wildlife, particularly in August and April each year.

Time for bird observation is that at the time of sea water began to install because of the time so many birds can be seen at the edge of the shoal water and mud.

In fact, bird observation activities can be done either on foot or by boat along the tire along the creek and the mud shoal.

Boats can be rented from local residents or nearby chalets at reasonable prices.

Not only the advantages of Kuala Gula Bird observations were watching fireflies at night is also the interesting activities.

Tourists can also make fishing a variety of fish species such as Kerisi (Nemipterus spp), spine (Arius spp) and Sembilang (Plotosus spp).

Like other tourist areas of Kuala Gula made even more special and famous have to be extended by certain parties, including state government.

Association of environmentalists such as the Global Environment Centre (GEC), which led Balu Perumal and his team of active associations is often down to the study, the observation that this region is no longer neglected to migratory birds and habitat in the area is no longer available.

Even Sahabat Hutan Bakau (SHB) as a fishing community in Kuala Gula led Zakaria Mohamad, 50, allows this question unanswered.Similarly, a member of Nature Club (KPA) of Kedah on the initiative of its chairman, S. Kalaimani with students who are also members of KPA SMK Baling led Teloi Senior Principal, Noriah Bahari with 200 members each month comes at its own expense in furtherance of the desire to save the mangrove forests since 2007 again.

Like the S. Kalaimani, the environment, including habitat has become a major responsibility to educate the younger generation, especially as students of this School Senior Teloi.

Can SHB, Teloi Senior School students with GEC is alone to make changes in sanctuary.

Nature of Kuala Gula occupants must be saved and the time has come to make the message more secure environment suit all parties.

Love and the study of birds in the area can be expanded as in terms of geography why this area has become a permanent transit site birds from cold in the northern hemisphere.

What are mangroves, mangrove areas, shoal and tidal mud at the Kuala Gula Bird advantage of this migration? Kuala Gula be appointed status as the world's major areas of bird species