AMID the hustle and bustle of campus life, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) has quietly transformed into a thriving habitat for 149 local and migratory bird species, reflecting the area’s rich biodiversity.
Cornelius Anuar Abdullah McAfee, a research fellow at UniSZA’s East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI) and a member of Terengganu Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), credited this to the campus’s strategic layout.
Its unique blend of wetlands, open fields and manicured landscaping created an ideal stopover along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
He said Malaysia’s peak migratory season runs from October to March, driven by natural mechanisms like changing daylight and food availability, rather than weather alone.
“When summer arrives in their original habitats and food resources increase, they return to breed,” Cornelius told Bernama.
“During this period, local birds here are breeding and require more food, which increases competition and drives migratory birds back to their original habitats.
“The monsoon also influences conditions on the east coast, with strong winds and heavy rain making long-distance flights less favourable.”
He said Terengganu has recorded over 400 bird species – a number that continues to grow.
Notable regional migratory sightings include raptors like the Osprey and Honey Buzzard, wetland species such as the Plover and Sandpiper and smaller birds like the Taiga Flycatcher and Red-throated Pipit.
On the UniSZA campus specifically, the two most recognisable winter visitors were the Common Sandpiper, often spotted foraging along drains and the Chinese Pond Heron, which frequented fields left soggy by October rains.
The campus’ clean, safe swamp environments had even attracted rare visitors from the Arctic and northern temperate zones, he said.
In 2024, Cornelius said a Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), which originated as far as Russia and was rarely seen in South-East Asia, was spotted at the UniSZA lake, marking a historic first for the state.
Capitalising on this ecological wealth, UniSZA now offers eight “Edutourism” programmes, with the Tropical Rainforest Birdwatching programme ranking as one of its most popular.
Last year alone, the birdwatching programme drew nearly 400 students and members of the public.
“Birdwatching is an accessible way to bring people closer to nature without needing to trek into deep national parks,” Cornelius said, adding that recent studies linked the hobby to stress reduction and cognitive stimulation.
With the rise of bird photography, he said the activity had become highly interactive, boosting interest among youth while providing invaluable crowdsourced documentation for biodiversity conservation.
To further promote this, UniSZA hosted a three-day collaborative birdwatching and photography event at Tasik Kenyir in April.
The programme featured guided watches, aimed at both beginner and veteran nature enthusiasts.
