My wish list for AraD's bird reservoir & sanctuary

Wonderful news! I've received word that Sime Darby Property will "coordinate with the landscape consultant to include the relevant design issue as highlighted in your attachment write-ups" (i.e. Bring Back The Birds report). Don't you just love a day that's filled with great news like that!

Anyway, since I walk the park in question daily, I constantly picture in my mind what it will look like when it's done. How it will serve both birdlife and our life in a comfortable co-existence.

I see in my mind's eye
1) the lakeside bank sloping down from Calarosa planted with tall reeds that will shelter the water/ground birds. There is no pedestrian traffic on the slopes so the nesting birds will be safe from disturbance. A hedge row could be planted along the top of the slope so the nesting birds will be safe from disturbance. A hedge-row could be planted along the top of the slope to hinder dogs from menacing the birds. I know my cocker-spaniel would have a field day chasing birds, given half the chance.

2) The upstream, innermost lake bordered by Calarosa, Ara Hill and AraVista ph.2 must have perch-poles for kingfishers and other fish-hunting birds. They are such a delight to behold as they are so beautifully coloured and the perch-pole is the perfect pedestal to view them in a most natural stance. And when they dive for their prey... a sight that's a gift from God. The lake could be populated with hardy fish like the local "lampan" (http://fish-lampan.blogspot.com/) which are cheap, breed easily and a delight to both fisherman and kingfishers; and not forgetting the ever popular tilapia.

3) The upstream lake should also have a couple of bird-watching hides on its banks to enable birding enthusiasts to appreciate their hobby, as well as cultivate others to appreciate this hobby. I imagine a hide to be no more than 10 sq meters, with a raised hard floor. Not having any bench in the hide will allow enthusiasts to set up their equipment like camera tripod etc comfortably according to their needs. Not having furniture in the hide makes it less appealing for love-birds to turn it into a lover's haunt at night too. The hide should only have it's 2 sides (left and right) and roof covered with the same material. I suggest that the L-R walls and roof be chain-link supported by poles. The chain-link will allow equipment and supplies to he hooked on for easy access. For camouflage, creepers / climbers can be grown to cover and cool the hide, blending in with the natural surrounding.

War on Dengue

Plastered on The Star's front page news of January 20, 2009.

I sniggered another cynical laugh, breathed another sigh of hopelessness. I've blogged on about the condition of drains in Ara Damansara and its obvious design fault which facilitates mosquito breeding. In true Malaysian style, authorities turn a blind eye and deaf ear while we are being eaten alive by mosquitoes, while praying not to be afflicted with dengue or chikungunya. But it will take just that for someone in authority to take action. Not until a death has befallen this community from these deadly diseases will something be done to remove the covers and clean up the clogged drains.

The mozzies are now impervious to the insect repellant, alert to the electric racquet and sneaking through the smallest break in the insect netting. Whatever still-water around the house is regularly replaced, Abate-d and populated with larvae-eating fish. What else is there to do but blog about it and wait for action.

Bird Reservoir: An open letter to Sime Darby Property Berhad

I have always loved birds. They are such a joy to have around the neighbourhood. What life they bring, what songs they sing, what colours they add to our landscape. I can't imagine a world without birds.

Everyday when I sit in my home office or in my garden, I am so calmed and delighted by the birdsong that surrounds me. The shrill tunes of the magpie, cheeky calls of the myna. I've noted 2 species in Ara Damansara: the Common Myna (brown) and the Jungle Myna


But most delightful of all are what I call the wilder species of birds because they are less commonly seen in urban areas. These are bee-eaters, bitterns, herons, and kingfishers. Believe it or not, these species can be spotted around the Recreational Park & Pond of Ara Damansara. The lucky enclaves of Calarosa and the semi-dees of Laurent-Lincoln-Lancaster of PJU 1A/29 precinct and very soon Ara Hill, border this beautiful Recreational Park & Pond. Actually it is the once, long time ago beautiful park and pond. You would have read my earlier postings about the severe deterioration of this park & pond to a deplorable state resulting from the development of Ara Hill.

I'm glad to know that the residents of the enclaves mentioned share the same sentiment and have been proactive in contacting Sime Darby Property Berhad about it. I'm happy to report that SDPB responded favourably and said that the upgrading and rehabilitation works will commence in Q1'2009. An independent landscape architect has been appointed for the exercise.

Very good, but I would also like to know if the landscaping and rehabilitation has a holistic purpose, or will it just be confined to one man's view of beauty? What good is beauty if it is without purpose? I have discovered a report of a study put together by the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with other authorities called "BRING BACK THE BIRDS! PLANNING FOR TREES AND OTHER PLANTS TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE IN URBAN AREAS"

It is an amazing report, available upon request from the WWF. It tells of how parks should be sculpted to encourage the return of indigenous birds to our neighbourhood. This is what I mean by beauty with purpose. In all things, we must have an end in mind, and I pray that the tagline of "developing sustainable futures" of SDPB keeps true to its meaning and intention.

The Recreational Park & Pond referred to here, is absolutely perfect for a pilot project emulated on the BRING BACK THE BIRDS report. I walk there everyday and picture in my mind that if the rehabilitation of this park is carried out in consultation with the knowledgeable authorities of the Report, wow! the owners of the surrounding property can easily hear kah-ching on the value of their property over and above the music from the birdlife they will soon enjoy. The people on Ara Hill, I envy you should the park be rehabilitated for beauty with purpose.

I see this park as being a landmark statement of a responsible developer who cares about the future of our environment while ensuring that it value-adds to its customers' investments. A fantastic premise for leadership by example, a proverbial feather in the cap of the Sime Darby visionaries.

It is my fervent prayer that upon reading this SDPB will see the benefit of beauty with purpose. Hopefully the benefits reaped will be an inspiration to our local authorities (for which BRING BACK THE BIRDS was produced) to follow suit. The Subang airport road has got to be the ugliest road for miles around. That's quite another story.

Credit: Many thanks to Khong Tuck Khoon's Birding in Malaysia page for bird photos.