Birdwatching in Asia

Thaibirding.com provides free information, maps, checklists, news and trip reports on birdwatching in Thailand. The website is designed to provide enough information to take a birdwatching vacation independently, but for those with limited time or prefer assitance, guiding services can be arranged too.

Thailand is one of the hottest birding destinations in Asia with an abundance of accessible sites, reasonably priced accommodation and plenty of cheap food - oh, and over 950 species of birds from a wide variety of habitats and several biogeographical regions.

Thaibirding.com introduces sites such as Laem Pak Bia, Khao Yai, Kaeng Krachan, Khao Nor Chu Chi and Doi Inthanon. Endangered and threatened species such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Gurney's Pitta, Nordmann's Greenshank, Siamese Fireback and Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo are easier to see in Thailand than any other country and the supporting cast of species is very impressive - thaibirding.com will give readers a good idea where to look for these birds.

Thaibirding.com also benefits from the superb pictures of many photographers, particularly Alister Benn, Suppalak Klabdee, Peter Ericsson, Johan Svensson and Alex Vargas in particular.

Whilst this may not be on top of most birder's lists of places to go, one dedicated birder, serving as a soldier, kept a birding blog for the country between 2004 and 2005, with posts up to 2007: Birding Babylon.

The information on this website, along with a new field guide (only in Arabic), may prove useful to anyone engaged in security or rebuilding work in Iraq, although how one finds time to look for species such as Basra Reed Warbler and Grey Hypoleucus when attempting not to get killed is a bit of a mystery.

Malaysia possesses some of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforest in the world making it a superb location for forest birdwatching. Species such as Garnet Pitta, Straw-headed Bulbul, Great Argus and Black Hornbill can be found in the forests of peninsula Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak contain many of Borneo's endemic species.

With such a proliferation of species and a good infrastructure, as well as English being widely spoken, Malysia is one of the most frequently visited birding locations in Southeast Asia.

Birding in Malaysia deals mainly with peninsula Malaysia and contains trip reports and a large database of Malaysian species.

Borneo Bird Festival is a useful website which details many of Borneo's prime birdwatching destinations, including details of how to get to them, and has many beautiful photos of endemic species.

Bird Conservation Nepal have a good website which highlights many of the best birdwatching sites as well as containing news about conservation projects and ornithology in Nepal.

With successful elections in early 2008, Nepal is now more stable than it has been for a decade and is once again a superb destination for birders with its huge variation of habitats, from plains and forest to the snowy mountains of the Himalayas.

With birds such as Ibisbill, Bengal Florican, Lammergier and Himalayan Monal and national parks such as Chitwan, Bardia and Nepal is a must-visit country for birders.

Of course, for a full list of links concerning birdwatching in Nepal take a look at Fatbirder's Nepal section.

The Philippines has one of the highest levels of avian endemism in the world with over 180 species found only in this country. Birds such as Philippine Eagle, Rufous Hornbill, Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Coleto and Red-crested Malkoha can only be found in Philippines and make a trip to this country essential for birders.

Birdwatch.ph is the official site of the Wild Bird Club of The Philippines and it includes a lot of bird orientated conservation news, information about birding trips and sightings information.
Some of the best birding sites in The Philippines are:

1. Mt. Makiling, Los banos, Laguna
2. Subic Bay, Zambales
3. Candaba Marsh, Pampanga
4. NOrthern Sierra Madre Nature Park, Cagayan
5. St. Paul's National Park, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
6. Rasa Island, Narra, Palawan
7. Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Cebu
8. Rajah Sikatuna National Park, Bohol
9. Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon
10. Mt. Apo National Park, Davao

For an excellent selection of photographs of birds of the Philippines see Romy Ocon's gallery: Birds of The Philippines.

Timor-Leste is Asia's newest country with independence from Indonesia declared in 2002. With a number of birds endemic to the region or to the island of Timor, there are plenty of species to attract birders to visit. Birds such as Timor Stubtail, Timor Blue Flycatcher, Fawn-breasted Whistler, Timor Friarbird, Timor Black Pigeon and Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon should be enough to whet the appetite of any birdwatcher.

Although there is no website dedicated to birdwatching in Timor-Leste, the Turismo de Timor-Leste website has a useful page on birdwatching in the country including a list of key species and top birding sites.

In 2007 the government of Timor-Leste designated its first national park; Nino Konis Santana National Park; which protects many of the island's endemic bird species.