Links
- Other Sites in Southern Thailand
- Other Recommended Birding Sites in Thailand
Birding in the South
Birding in the southern jungles simply cannot be compared to birding in the north or central plains. The evergreen forests are home to many species which are extremely shy and skulking, many of which prefer to remain hidden within the labyrinth of twisting vines and dew-drenched leaves. The birds of the north are more acclimated to humans and tend to be less skulking, meaning that a morning trip to the forest will yield a large number of quality birds and a long list of sightings. Southern birding could be described as hiking the difficulty meter up a notch. Don’t be frustrated if your first attempts at birding yield few sightings. You are not alone!
Many of the forests in the south are restricted to the hill slopes since most of the level lowlands were decimated prior to the logging ban of ‘89. The mountains are still covered with thick forests but since the mountain tops are narrow and limited, the number of higher-altitude species are few. Many of the National Parks which serve these forests are ill-equipped to provide a full range of protection, resulting in the continued disappearance of many of the larger mammals, birds and predators from within the park boundaries. The threat of being attacked by wild animals is therefore very low. In fact, the only thing I would worry about is the emergence of leeches, which are aplenty in the wet season in most parks throughout the south.
To make life easier for those who may be fledging birders or those who simply prefer to make the most of their limited stay in the Kingdom, I have complied a list of Birding Tours and Guides which I hope will allow the birder to see more in less time. While I can agree that striking out on your own is more exciting and thrilling, the experience of having a guide who has been to the various sites and knows the terrain is unquestionably the logical path of reasoning to choose when time is limited and one wants to get as many lifers as possible.
The sites mentioned here are merely suggestions for birders who are planning on visiting the region. It is intended to provide an insiders insight to various birding locations and hopefully encourage more birders and nature lovers to visit the other side of what Thailand has to offer. Many of the reviews mentioned here will end with my personal rating of the site, and while some sites will receive higher ratings than others, this is by no means a final review. I would encourage birders to feel free to try any sites they wish to experience and write a note about their outing in the comments box, so as to keep the site updated for those wishing to visit it in the future. As in any site, some days will be slow and other days will be incredible.
Also remember that no matter where you are, keep those binoculars close by; you never know what surprises nature will throw at you at any given time of the day.
Natural History
Southern Thailand is the primary reason why tourists call Thailand and exotic paradise. The sun-drenched beaches layered in white, powdery sand; emerald seas filled with colorful fish; thick, humid tropical jungles inhabited by tiger and wild elephant; mangroves filled with birds and mosquitoes; all this adds to the magic that we call southern Thailand.
Although much of the nature in the south is in decline from the ravages of man, there are many havens where wildlife still thrives, hidden away from the terror that we call humanity. In many parts of the south one can still encounter patches of forest and jungle that were spared from the curse of the chainsaw. Although much of the marine life has suffered from the effects of over fishing and the introduction of industrial trawlers equipped with dragnets, many sites on the western coast still abound with fish, including many of the larger and targeted species such as jewfish, grouper, shark and rays. Effective laws, such as the logging ban of 1989, helped to curb the insanity which reigned prior to the implementation of these guidelines. One can only wonder, however, what Thailand would be like today if only the government had instigated these laws a few decades earlier?
Although there are consequences for breaking these laws, nature is still under attack from rouge individuals and companies which covertly use their influence and money to encroach on forest lands. Logging is still a problem in the deep south, where the Muslim insurgency prevents the forestry officials from paroling the park boundaries for fear of being attacked. Kao Nor Chu Chi, the world-famous oasis of forest which is home to Gurney’s Pitta, is still under constant threat from loggers and plantation owners wishing to expand their properties and pocketbooks. The bird trade, which begins in the jungles and ends in Bangkok’s notorious Chatuchak Market, is stripping the forests of their birds and wildlife. Aside from the sale of birds, reef fish are sold en mass behind closed doors, resulting in the disappearance of species such as clownfish and sea horses from many of Thailand’s prime dive sites.
Thailand’s growing population is a threat to wildlife and a problem which cannot be ignored. Expanding populations increase the demand for food and commerce, both of which require large amounts of land. This is why it is imperative that the government monitors the use of the land and implements zoning rules which will allow maximum use of available resources without straining the forests and its inhabitants. The forests of the south all act as vital watershed stations; without them, the south would face terrible droughts and floods, as witnessed in the northeast, and much loss and sorrow would only befall mankind if he were to make the wrong decision to clear the forests for his own personal gain.
