Bird-watching in Labuan

'Domes' of the bird park
The aviary provides a comfortable environment for the birds
A hornbill

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Mohammad Abdullah and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Mohammad Abdullah

One of the most popular spots for tourists and locals alike is the Labuan Bird Park located near the Chimney at Tanjung Kubong.

This tranquil bird park is surrounded by a well-landscaped garden and walking paths. It has three large dome-shaped cages surrounded by beautiful trees and flowering plants.

A slow, relaxing walk in the bird park is recommended if you wish to escape to a more peaceful surrounding where you can soak in the beauty and marvel at a large variety of tropical birds under the same roof.

Did I mention that admission is free when I visited the bird park?

It is not advisable to feed the birds in the aviary, unless you want the birds to swarm you and start pecking at places where you don't want to be pecked.

One of the most interesting aspects of the park is that there are no bird handlers to be seen in any of the enclosures. This is a boon or a bane, depending on how you look at it.

It's a boon as we can observe the birds without any handlers looking over our shoulders. We can be up close and personal with the birds and observe the magnificent creatures which can only be found deep in the rainforests of Borneo.

The disadvantage that I could think of is that the birds can be a tad frightening, especially the big ones.

This is especially so when the birds decide to turn the tables and observe you up close and personal. They can swoop down very close to your head. At this point, kissing the ground seems to be a better alternative than having the birds peck your eyes out!

Labuan Bird Park is home to many bird species only likely to be encountered deep in the forests of Borneo. But there are plans to collect a good percentage of the 580 species of birds found in Borneo's diverse habitats, from mangroves along the coasts to forests in the mountains in order to increase the number of residents at this bird park.

Unlike bird-watching in the wild, here at the bird park, nature lovers do bird-watching without the arduous treks in the jungle or any need to tow expensive equipment.

Each of the domes is connected by a series of covered walkway.

The walkways are also filled with birds. Walking around in the domes gives a sense of freedom as you walk among the birds.

The bird park is cosy and not as big as some of the other bird parks in the region. But it is worth spending an hour or two in the aviary to view some of the unique bird species of Borneo.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend