Report: Hornbills - Wings of Wonder (WW04)

Members’ Report by HY Leong, Justin Loh and Chee Eer
Photos by HY Leong and Grace Chin

On a bright Sunday morning, 2 November 2025, 11 MNS members (5 children and 6 adults) gathered at Perdana Botanical Garden to celebrate National Hornbill Day—officially observed on 10 November—a little ahead of schedule. 
The programme combined birdwatching, a talk by Dr Yeap Chin Aik, games, and creative activities, all centred on hornbill conservation and appreciation. 

Birdwatching

    The day began with a warm welcome from Wild Wonders organiser HY Leong, followed by a guided birdwatching walk led by four volunteers from the Selangor Branch Bird Group (SBBG): Liu Lai Wah, Tai Ping Ling, YM Liew, and Chang Wan Sze.

    Starting at Taman Hikayat in Perdana Botanical Garden, families were paired with the experienced birders and spent about two hours observing birds and learning about their habitats. Although one family arrived late and had a shorter session, the overall experience was highly successful.

    “The location has a good variety of bird species despite being used mainly as a recreational site,” noted Justin Loh. Chee Eer added, “We were fortunate to spot a wide range of birds, including three species of kingfishers, the Daurian Starling (Agropsar sturninus), Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis), and the Black-thighed Falconet (Microhierax fringillarius).” 

    Participants praised the mentors for their knowledge, patience, and preparation, which helped many see the Botanic Gardens in a new light. After the walk, participants proceeded to the Royal Lake Club for breakfast.

Breakfast & Educational Talk

    Breakfast—fried meehoon, curry puffs, local kuih and hot drinks—was served at the Perdana Room at around 10.15am. This was followed with Dr Yeap Chin Aik's engaging talk on Malaysia’s ten hornbill species.

    Dr Yeap is the Lead Investigator and Co-Founder of the MNS Hornbill Conservation Project, and a Senior Conservation Officer with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) in Kuala Lumpur. With 25 years of experience, he has worked on wildlife surveys, endangered species protection, conservation policy, and capacity-building, and collaborates with BirdLife International on Malaysia’s threatened birds and key habitats.

    “Dr Yeap’s presentation was informative and humorous, making learning about hornbills great fun,” said Chee Eer. Justin Loh described it as “awesome and lively, filled with interesting facts and figures.”

    Dr Yeap then led an interactive role-playing game in which participants simulated parent hornbills, using tongs to represent a male hornbill’s beak to “feed” the female and chicks through a green cloth with a simulated nest cavity. The activity was both entertaining and educational. Dr Yeap later reviewed each group’s collection of food items and explained whether it constituted a nutritious diet for hornbill families.

Art & Craft Activity

    The final session featured a hands-on art activity in which participants created hornbill models designed to perch on their arms. The materials and sample were prepared by member Choo Li-Hsian, who was unable to attend at the last minute; the organisers extend their heartfelt thanks for her contribution.

    Using Choo’s detailed notes, HY Leong facilitated the activity, which was enthusiastically received by both children and adults. Most participants created realistic hornbill designs, with the exception of one imaginative “party hornbill.” It was later noted that the cardboard supplied varied in thickness, and a few families encountered minor challenges when cutting out the hornbill templates. Parents kindly assisted where needed, and the organisers will review material specifications more carefully with suppliers for future activities.

A judged competition was held for the children’s entries, with Dr Yeap and Liu serving as judges. Third place went to Owen, second place to Colin, and first prize was awarded to Nu’man.

Overall, the event successfully blended nature appreciation, conservation learning, and creativity, leaving participants inspired to better understand and protect Malaysia’s hornbills.

Acknowledgements

    After the session, facilitator Leong thanked Dr Yeap, with Vice Chair Grace Chin presenting a token of appreciation. The organiser also thanked the SBBG birders, and Lee Hwan King for arranging the Royal Lake Club venue.