To make your bird-watching trip to Cambodia even more enjoyable, we’ve compiled this checklist and annotated list of key species for you to check off your list. The information provided includes an overview of the Key habitats, Threatened species, and nesting places. Read on to learn more. And be sure to share your findings with your friends! Here is your ultimate guide to bird-watching in Cambodia. Enjoy! Here are the top 5 highlights of the bird-watching experience in Cambodia.
Annotated checklist
Annotated checklist of birds of Cambodia is the first book to document the entire Cambodian bird fauna. The Annotated Checklist of Cambodia contains over eighty colour photographs of the country’s birds and provides comprehensive information on their habitats, breeding habits and seasonal status. It also includes tables highlighting globally and nationally endangered species, a geographical gazetteer, and information on their conservation status. This book will stimulate interest in conservation among the general public and conservationists in Cambodia. All the profits will go to build awareness among the young people of Cambodia.
Annotated checklist of birds of Cambodia starts with an introduction to the country’s geography, major habitats, protected areas, ornithological history, and recent survey coverage. Then, species accounts summarize current knowledge on the various species, including their French, English, and Khmer names. Species of conservation concern and rare species are reviewed in detail, as well as a proposed national conservation category. The book is an indispensable reference for bird enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone who loves birds.
Key habitats
In addition to the rainforests of central and northern Asia, Cambodia is home to one of the largest expanses of natural forests in continental South-East Asia. These forests are a rich source of wildlife, including a wide range of birds. Cambodia’s fauna includes species that have been declining in neighboring countries, such as the snake-eating deer Pygathrix nemaeus. Other important species that can be found in Cambodia’s forests include the endemic Mekong Wagtail and the critically endangered Red-headed Vulture.
Other important habitats include the Tonle Sap Lake and surrounding biosphere. The dry forests of Mondolkiri and Ratanakiri provinces and the Cardamom Mountains ecosystem are other key habitats. The latter includes several wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas. In addition to the lake, Cambodia also contains a large number of other important habitats, such as the Phnom Aural and Botum-Sakor national parks.
There are several reports available for reference, including the World Bank’s 1994-1995 field guide. In addition, the Asian Wetlands Bureau published an unpublished draft document on wetlands in Cambodia, and the World Resources Institute’s 1994-1995 guide. Ashwell has written several reports for organizations like the World Bank, UNDP, and IUCN. This guide is a good tool to help you learn about the habitats of birds in Cambodia.
Birding in Cambodia is popular in this Southeast Asian country. The country has over 40 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) spanning four countries. There are also many species and subspecies that are critically endangered in Cambodia, such as the White-shouldered Ibis. This book is highly recommended for those interested in birding in Cambodia. If you have been unable to see any birds in Cambodia, this book is a must-have for your birding list.
Threatened species
To address the problem of global conservation, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Cambodia has devised an innovative project to protect the habitats of six endangered species of birds. The conservation plan emphasizes direct incentives for local communities, such as payments for bird nest protection, improvement of value chains for wildlife-friendly produce, and development of ecotourism. Ultimately, this approach will help conserve threatened species and their habitats, as well as strengthen the capacity of local organizations to take part in conservation efforts.
One of the most prominent examples of the impact of dam construction is the black-bellied tern, a species that used to be common in Cambodia. However, as of 2003, the species had all but disappeared from the country. Scientists believe that upstream dams killed the last of the Cambodian black-bellied terns. In just 30 years, the bird went from a species of “least concern” to an endangered species.
The Cambodian government recently recognized the Anlung Pring Protected Area as part of the East Asia-Australia bird flyway. On April 9, three critically endangered giant ibises were killed in the protected area. Less than 300 giant ibises are left in the wild. This is an example of how a corrupt government can undermine conservation efforts and hurt local economies. In Cambodia, these efforts are being carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The Bengal Florican is another critically endangered species of bird. It is a large grassland bird with a small range in India and Vietnam, but it breeds in the Florican Grassplains around the Tonle Sap Great lake in Cambodia. The Cambodian government is taking action to protect the species by setting up six conservation areas, known as Bengal Florican Conservation Areas, and by working with conservation NGOs and government agencies to monitor nests and habitats for birds.
Nesting places
In the country’s northern plains, you’ll find a number of nesting places for birds, including the Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis, Red-headed Vulture, Oriental Darter, and Masked Finfoot. Some species are also found at the wildlife sanctuary in Prey Preah Roka. The Wildlife Conservation Society has developed an Ibis Rice initiative in this area, purchasing rice from local farmers at fair-trade prices and packaging it for sale to top-end gift shops, restaurants, and hotels. The Ibis Rice initiative has already helped 43 farmers harvest 57 tons of rice, providing revenue for the village committee. This revenue is being used to improve infrastructure, pay for nest identification, and provide more protection for breeding birds.
Poachers discovered the site earlier, taking hundreds of thousands of birds’ eggs and chicks for sale as food. Later, French ornithologist Frederic Goes was able to capture a single poacher, who had about 1,000 eggs in his boat. The situation has led to the near-extinction of several species of birds, including the milky stork and the greater adjutant.
The protection of river tern nesting areas has been the main focus of the WCS program in Cambodia, which has protected 3,800 of the bird nests of 11 species of globally endangered species. The program works with local communities to ensure that nests are protected from water buffalo, rats, and humans. The WWF collects information every year to monitor the success of the program. It pays the people who protect nests conditionally to ensure that they are protected from poachers.
Another area in which you can see nesting birds is the Seima Protected Forest, which is in the eastern province of Mondulkiri. At the Jahoo Gibbon Camp, you can see rare species such as the Orange-necked Partridge and the Germains Peacock Pheasant. In addition, you’ll find partridges, broadbills, and hornbills in Bokor Hill Station.
Distribution
A distribution of Cambodia’s birds is limited to the low-lying ‘chaktomuk’ region, where the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers confluence. This dynamic floodplain limits the global distribution of new species. The area’s dense scrub is difficult to traverse, making it essential for scientists to use playbacks of song to lure the birds out of hiding. This book provides valuable information on the species that occur in Cambodia.
A detailed guide to the birds of Cambodia can be found in Lynx’s book, which contains a physical map of the country and lists 35 hotspots for birding. The book also provides an introduction to Cambodia, covering the climate, forest types, and nine wetlands. The species included in Lynx’s guide have 150 words per species, describing their range, habitat, age, and geographical variation. The book also includes 123 colour plates containing around 1400 illustrations of all six29 species of Cambodia.
The country’s avifauna contains 665 species, including 2 introduced by humans and 4 endemic to the country. The list follows the taxonomy of the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition, and reflects both native and introduced species. A number of species, such as the common tiger vulture, are also included in the total species count. The species list highlights several categories, although many of these are not native species.
There are a few species of critically endangered birds found in Cambodia. The giant ibis, for example, primarily resides in the country. Habitat loss and hunting have driven it to the brink of extinction. However, a small population of this bird has been found in Mondulkiri and Preah Vihear provinces. It is often observed at watering holes in the dry forest habitat. Despite the plight of its population, the giant ibis remains the national bird of Cambodia. The law has made giant ibis a protected species in Cambodia. However, efforts are underway to re-establish the species’ population.
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