Harrier species and counts at a paddyland roost in Seberang Perak, Malaysia
2014
Lim, Kim Chye | Lim, Aun Tiah | Khoo, Swee Seng
Peninsular Malaysia lies on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a major migration pathway for many species of migratory birds, including raptors, which commute between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas. Every year, thousands of migratory raptors arrive in Peninsular Malaysia either as passage migrants or winter visitors, and at least 26 species, including harriers, have been recorded here. Harriers are unique among raptors in that they habitually roost on the ground, and are thus good subjects for detailed field observation. Although harriers are known to winter here in paddylands, hardly any study has been carried out on the species, particularly their abundance and behavior at roosting sites in Peninsular Malaysia. From 10 December 2011 to 8 April 2012, we carried out observations of harriers at a roost in the Changkat Lada paddylands in FELCRA agricultural estate in Seberang Perak, south-western Perak state. Eastern Marsh-harrier Circus spilonotus and Pied Harrier C. melanoleucos were initially found roosting communally in one main roost in tall, standing paddy in the fields. The location of the roost was not permanent and was dependent on the paddy planting cycle. Harriers chose to roost in unharvested paddy fields, also open ground and an oil palm plantation when affected by disturbance from harvesting, burning, ploughing and flooding of the fields. Counts of all harriers at the roost recorded a maximum of 178 harriers, establishing Changkat Lada as the largest currently known harrier roost in Peninsular Malaysia. Harriers perform a biological control service for paddy farmers by removing rodent pests, and therefore should be protected in their wintering grounds.
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