The Winged Wonders of Kampar

The still lakes in the heart of Kampar have been a haven of a clamorous avifauna of a wide array of bird species each with its own characteristics and beauty.

From herons to hornbills, egrets to bitterns, sea eagles to woodpeckers one would never fail to marvel at their charm.

According to local watchers, Kampar is home to an impressive count of at least a hundred species of water birds which has since risen in the past five years depending on the migrating patterns.

Mr. Wang Tao, 67, who is also a longtime avid bird watcher and fisherman said that the grey heron, egret species, asian koel and the oriental honey buzzard are among the highest breeding species in the Kampar locality.

However, that’s not all. During peak migratory seasons, at least a few hundreds of various other non-regular species would be seen flying across the skies in groups during early dawns and late dusks, he said.

Wang describes the grey heron as a figure of elegance in most of the local water points. It’s majestic six-feet wingspan, silver-grey feathers, slender long neck and graceful size makes it an expert in striking unwary fish in the waters.

“Its dagger-like beak, honed by years of evolution, is a formidable tool, perfectly designed for spearing fish and frogs with deadly accuracy,” he tells Kampar Daily.

But the heron is not just a masterful hunter; it is also a creature of beauty and mystery. As dusk descends and the darkness grows, watchers around both East and West lakes get to see the beholding sight of the heron's silhouette against the fading light he added.

Another common bird is the Asian Koel. Although it has a beautiful appearance what makes it truly remarkable is his voice that transcends the ordinary.

Its call, a rich, resonant "koo-ooo," is a harbinger of the monsoon, an ancient melody that has echoed through the bushes and trees of Kampar for years, he explained.

He adds that according to ancient legends, the Koel's call is more than just a song. It is a reminder of the beauty and resilience and mysteries of the natural world.

Every day as the sun sets, Koel's call fills the air, a haunting melody that speaks of love, life’s eternal dance and the timeless wonders of the natural world.

On the other hand, he says the egret is one of the regulars in the watery domains of Kampar. The egret normally come in different sub-species; the cattle, great and little egrets, are often seen gliding effortlessly over the still lakes.

According to Wang the egrets embody the epitome of grace in motion, “one will certainly realize this from their behavior when hunting for fish and insects in the shallow waters. Their patience and timed strikes with pinpoint accuracy is unparalleled,” said Wang.

Beside their beauty and grace, the egret also embodies an element of cultural symbolism. In many Asian cultures, the egret is a symbol of purity, patience, and wisdom while in others such as Mesopotamia (ancient Egypt) egrets were associated with the goddess Isis, which symbolizes fertility and motherhood.

Reported by: Kevin Komora

金宝的湖泊一直是各种鸟类的聚集地，从苍鹭到犀鸟，白鹭到麻鳽，海雕到啄木鸟，每一种鸟类都令人叹为观止。而随着季节变迁，金宝湖泊可出现多达一百种水鸟，若是高峰期还能观察到非常规的物种，因此可被称为最佳观鸟圣地。

67岁的王涛（Wang Tao）先生是一位长期热衷于观鸟的和垂钓的人，根据他的观察，金宝地区至少有一百种水鸟，而这一数量在过去五年中有所增加，增加的幅度取决于这些鸟类的迁徙模式。

他指出，灰鹭、白鹭、亚洲杜鹃和东方蜂鹰是金宝地区繁殖最多的鸟类之一，然而，在迁徙高峰期，至少还能看到数百种其他非常规物种在清晨和傍晚的天空中成群飞行。

王先生接受本报采访时指出，灰鹭是金宝大部分水域的优雅代表。它优美的六英尺翼展、银灰色羽毛、修长的长颈和优雅的体型使其成为水中捕鱼的专家。

“灰鹭的喙像匕首般，而经过多年的进化，成为了它们捕食鱼或青蛙的强大工具。但灰鹭不仅是一位技艺高超的猎手；它也是一种美丽而神秘的生物。当黄昏降临，黑暗蔓延时，东湖和西湖周围的观鸟者们会看到灰鹭的轮廓在消逝的光线中。”

另一种常见的鸟名为亚洲杜鹃，虽然它外表美丽，但真正引人注目的是它那超越寻常的声音。

他表示，杜鹃的叫声“咕咽，咕咽”，是季风的先驱，是一个古老的旋律，多年来一直在金宝的灌木丛以及树木中回荡。

“据古代传说，杜鹃的叫声不仅是一首歌，更是对自然界美丽、坚韧和神秘的提醒。每当太阳落山时，杜鹃的叫声充斥着空气，一种令人心醉的旋律，讲述着爱情、生命的永恒舞蹈和自然界永恒的奇迹。”

此外，王先生描述白鹭是优雅运动的典范，也是金宝水域的常客之一，它们通常有耐心和精准的定时攻击在浅水中的鱼以及昆虫。白鹭通常有不同的亚种；牛背白鹭、大白鹭和小白鹭，它们经常在静谧的湖泊上优雅地滑翔。

除了它们的美丽和优雅，白鹭还具有文化象征的元素。在许多亚洲文化中，白鹭是纯洁、耐心和智慧的象征，而在其他文化中，如美索不达米亚（古埃及），白鹭与女神伊西斯相关联，象征着生育和母性。

Translated by: Wong Ee Ven