CFZ Firefly Survey Likau River 17th April 2010

CFZ Firefly Survey Likau River 17th April 2010
Likau Firefly and Crocodile Night Time Assessment
Observers Name : Sara, Anne, Jolani, Benjamin, Daphne, Joanes and Musa.

Jetty/Berth Location: Similajau Park Jetty. Location: N3 20.903 E113 09.465

Survey River: 3 KM Along Likau River from Park jetty


Likau-3
We meet at Taman Awam at 1:30 pm sharp as promised. Daphne who left her car at my house follow my car and jump into Sara car. Sara is to pump her car tyres as her car air pressure goes below the specific pressure requirement. After pumping her car air pressure we pick up Benjernin who waits at Mosjaya bus-stand.
We set off straight to Similajau National Park at 1:45pm. I make Sara to pass my car as I am more as a follower in any kind of convoy. I stick to car per 10 km rule., rather second 4 seconds behind Sara.
There is no glitches at the road except a Petronas Tanker suddenly pull over at the side of the road, that Sara nearly bump behind it at Kampong Similajau Junction.

We reached Similajau National Park at 3:30 pm. To join us are Denis, Junis, and Anne. We put our camping gear at the boat landing while we get ourselves registered. Not long Junis show up and Denis too. Anne came in later.

After registration we waited for Julai our boat driver and Jolani as the navigator. Joining us are my son Musalfie and his cousin Emil and his friend Wandi.

The sea is a bit rough this morning according to Julai, this will make landing on Golden Beach difficult. For safety reason we decide five per person per trip. The trip will takes around half an hour to 45 minutes depending on wave condition.

10 km tracked by Anne and her gang

Anne, Musalfe, Emil and me decide to go first trip. We went out of Likau River and the wave is not as big as what was expected. We have a good journey to Golden Beach area. We would not land at Golden beach, but rather to an area where the SFC have their base where they do trail maintenance.

A quick breakfast before the track

We landed on the beach with out any problem. I was feeling a bit funny with the softness of the coarse sand. My feet seemed to sink about 6 inches but there is no mud. The coarse sand can be shaken off the feet quite easily. We land our camping gear and other equipment.

It was a funny felling when the boat left us in the beach. The feeling of being left out on a strange island. We scout the area and make up our lighting and make up our tent.

5 km to go

Not long after that the rest came. We decide to make up tent in the high ground as the tide is coming in. Not long after that it already dark. The sky is covered with thin dark cloud. To the south west could see bright horizon where the MLNG is. To the west and slightly north two bright stars are Venus and Mar.

We have a quick packed dinner. Sara, Anne, Junis and Daphne went out to check the Golden beach. I was all along not having a proper tracking shoe, thinking the track is a leisure beach walk. For not having proper footwear I was not allowed to track, because of safety reason.

My son and his friend play at the rocky beach all night. I was left with Julai and Jolani. We talk a lot sharing their experience at Jungle.

We heard a wild civet call at the back of our camp. Then we saw these civet shiny eyes in a tree. We watch the civet for quite sometime. Around 8:30 pm the group came from the night walk. They have not find any animal eyes except for night crawling insects.
Julai and Jolani have to go back because they have another program the next day. The area is too small to fit all our tents. Denis and me decide to put our tent on the beach, knowingly that the tide is coming in. Sara and Ann also decide to lie beside our tent. But they rather sleep under the stars. The rest of the team slept in their tents above the sand area. My son and their friend decide to sleep in the open in the bush.

It was a humid night and I can’t remember when Sara and Anne shouted at us to move up because the tide is coming close to our tent.

As usual I woke up early. I need to clear nature call, as not to get embarrassed by other people in the team. I managed to ease off before the rest woke up.

We have a standing quick breakfast of crackers and bread with cold water. We pack up our tents and put all our gear at one place to be send off boat later. At the advice of Sara, I am not allowed to do the 10 km tracking back to the Park. Anne has made arrangement for a boat pick up for me back to the park. My son and his friend decided to follow me by boat. Anne bring the rest of the gang to have a look at Golden beach and later come back around to see me if I have been pick up.

Anne and the gang came back around 9 am and also the pick up boat came in just as they left. I gave Anne my GPS to track the 10 km track.

We put all our gear into the boat and I requested the boatman to bring us to the coral island “Batu Mndi” just a Kilometer out to sea at the
national park.

We reach the park at 9:30 and bring all our gear at the Chalet. I prepare all my gear to do firefly survey that evening. The last two-person came in from the 10 km walk are Denis and Junis. Not that they are in bad shape, but they stopped many times to do photography. However Denis really hurt his knee during this long walk.

What I heard they encounter two snakes and an owl during this long walk.

I make myself ready early at the national park jetty early. Junis is ready at his truck. When it started to get dark. We set to do the firefly fast night assessment. There is a rainbow toward the South East sky. This indicate it rain in the area we want to do the survey.

buffy fish owl photo from Junis

We assign person to do each job like taking water sample is me, Logging co-ordinate with GPS is Benjamin, Daphne is taking note. Sara and me counting and Anne is taking samples. We also will count crocodile and any other animal or bird occurrence in this survey.

Likau- 1 Two left same species, The one on the right might be different.

Some of us I guest who did not have any experience to do this may have some butterflies in their stomach. The fright of encountering crocodile is really frightening.
The water sample is slightly acidic at pH 6 even at dilution of rainwater. The first Firefly display tree is at WPT 233 amounting about 20 individual. The best display tree is about 100 individuals is at 237 and 241. However when we shaken the tree branch to catch samples the fireflies hidden among the leaves started to activate their light organ. It is known that we could only see a third of the display at any given time. The rest of the fireflies is either dormant or behind our line of sight that we could not see.

Likau-2


Our first crocodile sighting is at wpt 238. The crocodile eyes seemed to be small, but when we come close to look, the crocodile is really big.

We decided to stop our survey when the rain started to fall. As we went back we saw some crocodile and an owl.

We ended our survey at 8pm after completing only 3km of the river.




Likau-3


River Water Property:
Specific gravity 1.008
Water temperature of 26.6° C
Air temperature is 25.5° C.

We set off from the jetty 19:00hrs.

Fieldnotes Sg Likau CFZ Firefly Survey
Date : 17th. April 2010

START Time: 19:00
COMPLETION Time: 20:00

PHYSICAL CONDITION:

a. Moon
No moon

b. Weather
80% Cloud covered sky, and raining at end of survey.

Relative Humidity: High
Temperature: Warm.
Water temperature 26.6 ° C
Air temperature 25.5 ° C
Water pH : 6(2 readings)
Specific gravity: At jetty 1.008

Wind : No Wind, last part of the survey it rains
No Haze

c. River Condition
Current: Fast moving down, Whitish sediment water.

Boat used: Yamaha 20 hp.
Survey Average Speed 6 Km/hr.
Tide: Low

Summary Observation log:
WPT Time Co-ordinate Side Fauna Remarks
233 18:59 N3 20.875 E113 09.485 Left Firefly 20 individuals
234 19:00 N3 20.851 E113 09.497 Left Firefly 25 individuals
235 19:00 N3 20.841 E113 09.500 Right Firefly 20 individuals
236 19:00 N3 20.836 E113 09.502 Left Firefly 50 individuals
237 19:00 N3 20.830 E113 09.504 Left Firefly 100 individuals
238 19:01 N3 20.788 E113 09.512 Left Crocodile I crocodile
239 19:03 N3 20.748 E113 09.519
240 19:05 N3 20.669 E113 09.522 Right Firefly 10 individuals
241 19:06 N3 20.607 E113 09.509 Left Firefly 100 individuals
242 19:08 N3 20.589 E113 09.499 Left Firefly 15 individuals
243 19:11 N3 20.520 E113 09.469 Right Crocodile I baby crocodile
244 19:13 N3 20.440 E113 09.465 Left Crocodile I crocodile
245 19:16 N3 20.336 E113 09.430 Left Firefly 20 individuals
246 19:20 N3 20.177 E113 09.484 Right Crocodile I crocodile
247 19:28 N3 20.081 E113 09.580 Left Bird 2 Imperial green piegons
248 19:34 N3 19.942 E113 09.682 Right Firefly 10 individuals
249 19:36 N3 19.894 E113 09.722 Right Firefly 25 individuals
250 19:39 N3 19.907 E113 09.835 Right Firefly 10 individuals
251 19:44 N3 19.774 E113 09.905 Left Crocodile 1 crocodile
252 19:46 N3 19.698 E113 09.928 Right Frog 1
253 19:52 N3 19.528 E113 10.054 Left Crocodile 2 crocodiles
254 20:00 N3 19.770 E113 09.899 Left Crocodile I crocodile
255 20:14 N3 20.588 E113 09.496 Left Bird Buffy Fish Owl

CFZ Firefly Survey Sibuti River 10th April 2010

Sibuti Firefly and Crocodile Night Time Assessment
Observers Name : Sara, Rosie, Faye, Remli, Nazeri, Ibrahim, Kallang and Musa.

Jety/Berth Location: SWS Jetty. Location Location N4° 1'58.75", E113°47'21.53"


Survey River: 13 KM Along Sibuti River from SWS jetty to a small tributary at the right side of Sibuti Estuary.

We ended up with too many cars going to this firefly survey despite advance carpool planning. We set off to Bekenu at 16:04 hr and arrived at Bekenu town around 17:00 hrs. We had a quick briefing on the evening's survey plans when opportunity presents itself while waiting for our food to arrive. With tasks assigned, all were set to go.

Utmost on everybody's mind was of course the crocodiles of Sg Sibuti, not one of us savor the thought of having to swim ashore in case of mishaps. An important safety consideration was reached rather quickly - we must do this survey in two boats:

i) navigator boat : Remli (up front), Nazeri (secure firefly samples), Sara (survey notes), Faye (gps coordinates), Musa (scan and count), Ibrahim (boat driver).
ii) standby boat : Rosie (water sample, air temperature,scan), Kallang (boat driver).

With all team members sufficiently briefed on the procedures we made a move towards Sibuti Wildlife Sanctuary around 1800 hrs to meet up with our boat divers and load up our gear. We were met by Ibrahim, Kallang and Suni (SWS staff) upon arrival. With 1/2 hrs we were all loaded up and raring to go.

Our first water sample at the jetty gave a reading:
Specific gravity 1.004
Water temperature of 29.2° C
Air temperature is 29.5° Centigrade.

Nipah palm trees lined up the entire length of the river, we set off from the jetty 19:10hrs.

Fieldnotes Sg Sibuti CFZ Firefly Survey from SWS Jetty to Kuala Sibuti
Date : 10th. April 2010

START Time: 19:10
COMPLETION Time: 21:10

There was no firefly seen at the Nipah palm trees. The first crocodile was noted at the left side of the river at wpt 143. A few times we were mislead by stars behind the trees as fire flies congregations. The stars can be seen due to the clear cut areas behind the trees making the thickness of vegetation alongside the river wafer thin. Large tracts of land in these parts ahve been cleared for palm oil cultivation.

We noted 7 crocodiles until we saw our first firefly congregation at wpt 150. We also saw several lone egrets perching at the Nipah tree. At WPT 153, we saw a group of 7 egrets roosting for the nite.

Some of the display trees gave that live throbbing visual sensation resulting from the synchronizing fireflies, quite an astonishing experience for some of our survey members, especially those doing this for the first time.

We were a bit disappointed not seeing more fireflies as we were expecting to be more of them here along Sg Sibuti. The nite was both moonless and practically cloud free. It was gathered from local knowledge that the fireflies are supposedly abundant when the water is salty and right after rain. Perhaps the sporadic rain we've been having the past few days have reduced much of the salinity in the area.


A roosting Little Egret, the rest of his buddies took flight as we approached the nipah palms.

We reached the boundary of SWS where a small river runs toward the right before the Sibuti estuary. We entered the area and we saw a cleared area to the left lined up with young berembang trees and the fireflies were seen congregating to display in these trees. The number of fireflies in general were around 20-30 individual in the new trees.

We completed our survey at WPT 227 at 21:02 hr.


Prime beachsand right across from Kpg Kuala Sibuti, our home for the night. What can be better than a roaring fire, dark nite with a kajillion stars up above and surprisingly: no mozzies!

We set off in the direction of the beach not far form the river-mouth. The girls went ahead to set up camp while the boys opted to sleep under the stars, setting up and dismantling tents proved to unnerving for some.

We had a light dinner and just lay on the plastic sheets watching the stars. We saw the Orion constellation, which was quite low at the horizon. This indicated it was very late night already. Above us is the Virgo constellation with huge dust cloud clearly seen in the dark sky. Once a while meteors trails were seen moving from East to West.

We fished a bit during the nite but mostly slept and enjoyed the flickering campfire throughout the nite.

By morning, we tried a bit more casting and settled to the fact that we won't catch anything this morning. We had a quick breakfast and broke camp before the full fury of the sun catches up with us.


Rosie navigating the smaller boat, eyes wide open for sudden moves at the water's edge.


Hill Myna taking flight.


Stork-billed Kingfisher on a branch by the river, the Ruddy Kingfisher made a nearly perfect fly-by across the bow of our boat ... all were too stunned to pick up the camera.

On the way back to SWS jetty we sighted the following birds:
Little Egret
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Striated Heron
Dollarbird
Green Pigeon
Long-tailed Parakeet
Ruddy Kingfisher (minor)
Hill Myna
Unidentified Babblers
Unidentified Bulbuls

at the SWS jetty we were greeted by a flock of Asian Glossy Starlings and a troop of Long-tailed Macaques. Unlike the night before, on the return trip we were only rewarded with one quick sighting of a crocodile.

PHYSICAL CONDITION:

a. Moon
Last Waning, moon only seen early morning around 0400.

b. Weather
Clear Starry night

Relative Humidity: Low
Temperature: Warm.
Water temperature 29.2 ° C
Air temperature 28.1 ° C
Water pH : 7
Specific gravity: At jetty 1.004 Last area 1.008

Wind : No Wind, only at the last part of the survey a little breeze.
No Haze

c. River Condition
Current: Not moving, Whitish sediment water after rain in the inland.

Boat used: Yamaha 20 hp.
Survey Average Speed 10.5 Km/hr.
Tide: medium

Summary Observation log:
WPT: Time: Co-ordinate River side Fauna Number
143 19:15 N4 01.653 E113 46.990 Left Crocodile 1
144 19:16 N4 01.592 E113 46.896 Left Crocodile 1
145 19:17 N4 01.573 E113 46.832 Left Crocodile 1
146 19:21 N4 01.333 E113 46.478 Left Crocodile 1
147 19:27 N4 01.008 E113 46.042 Left Crocodile 1 juvenile
148 19:31 N4 00.759 E113 45.704 Left Crocodile 1
149 19:33 N4 00.637 E113 45.732 Left Crocodile 1
150 19:36 N4 00.414 E113 45.581 Right Firefly First display tree 10 individuals
151 19:40 N3 59.954 E113 45.333 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
152 19:41 N3 59.937 E113 45.324 Left Crocodile Display at few trees 10 individuals
153 19:46 N3 59.864 E113 45.239 Right Egret 17 birds
154 19:46 N3 59.861 E113 45.237 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
155 19:48 N3 59.778 E113 45.171 Right Firefly Display at few trees 10 individuals
156 19:48 N3 59.774 E113 45.169 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
157 19:49 N3 59.753 E113 45.153 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
158 19:49 N3 59.739 E113 45.139 Right Firefly Display at few trees 10 individuals
159 19:49 N3 59.724 E113 45.124 Left Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
160 19:50 N3 59.698 E113 45.099 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
161 19:50 N3 59.675 E113 45.073 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
172 19:52 N3 59.621 E113 45.009 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
173 19:52 N3 59.609 E113 44.979 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
174 19:53 N3 59.601 E113 44.937 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
176 19:55 N3 59.578 E113 44.941 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
179 19:56 N3 59.621 E113 44.888 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
180 19:57 N3 59.632 E113 44.876 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
181 19:57 N3 59.632 E113 44.872 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
182 19:57 N3 59.633 E113 44.869 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
183 19:59 N3 59.597 E113 44.731 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
184 20:01 N3 59.516 E113 44.633 Right Firefly Display tree 100 synchronise individuals at 1sec
185 20:01 N3 59.507 E113 44.617 Right Firefly Display tree 100 synchronise individuals at 1sec
186 20:02 N3 59.485 E113 44.603 Right Firefly Display tree 100 synchronise individuals at 1sec 187 20:03 N3 59.439 E113 44.604 Right Firefly Display tree 100 synchronise individuals at 1sec
188 20:03 N3 59.410 E113 44.606 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
189 20:04 N3 59.374 E113 44.613 Right Firefly Display tree 100 synchronise individuals at 1sec
190 20:05 N3 59.340 E113 44.649 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
191 20:06 N3 59.321 E113 44.738 Right Firefly Display tree 150 synchronise individuals at 1sec
192 20:11 N3 59.165 E113 44.857 Right Firefly Display tree 15 individuals
193 20:12 N3 59.128 E113 44.843 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
194 20:12 N3 59.096 E113 44.828 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
195 20:13 N3 59.021 E113 44.791 Right Firefly Display tree 20 individuals
196 20:14 N3 58.981 E113 44.757 Right Crocodile 1
197 20:15 N3 58.952 E113 44.702 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
198 20:15 N3 58.947 E113 44.660 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals and several long tail macaques
199 20:18 N3 58.994 E113 44.596 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
200 20:19 N3 59.079 E113 44.536 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
201 20:20 N3 59.120 E113 44.484 Right Firefly Display at few trees 50 individuals
202 20:21 N3 59.119 E113 44.449 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
203 20:22 N3 59.083 E113 44.408 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
204 20:23 N3 58.975 E113 44.323 Right Crocodile 1
205 20:24 N3 58.953 E113 44.294 Right Firefly Display tree 150 synchronise individuals at 1sec
206 20:25 N3 58.914 E113 44.242 Right Firefly Display tree 150 synchronise individuals at 1sec
207 20:25 N3 58.907 E113 44.191 Right Firefly Display tree 200 synchronise individuals at 1sec
208 20:26 N3 58.896 E113 44.131 Right Firefly Display tree 200 synchronise individuals at 1sec
209 20:27 N3 58.888 E113 44.076 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
210 20:27 N3 58.878 E113 44.021 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
211 20:28 N3 58.871 E113 43.980 Right Firefly Display tree 50 synchronise individuals at 1sec
212 20:29 N3 58.867 E113 43.873 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
213 20:32 N3 59.009 E113 43.680 Right Crocodile 1
214 20:33 N3 59.075 E113 43.682 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
215 20:34 N3 59.129 E113 43.727 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
216 20:35 N3 59.162 E113 43.771 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
217 20:37 N3 59.328 E113 43.872 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
218 20:37 N3 59.369 E113 43.871 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
219 20:38 N3 59.402 E113 43.859 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
220 20:38 N3 59.421 E113 43.852 Right Firefly Display tree 20 individuals
221 20:41 N3 59.531 E113 43.947 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
222 20:43 N3 59.628 E113 44.044 Right Firefly Display tree 50 individuals
223 20:45 N3 59.663 E113 44.097 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
224 20:45 N3 59.671 E113 44.106 Right Firefly Display tree 100 individuals
225 21:00 N3 59.718 E113 44.196 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
226 21:02 N3 59.685 E113 44.127 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals
227 21:02 N3 59.679 E113 44.117 Right Firefly Display tree 10 individuals

Musa Musbah/MNS Miri Apr 2010

CFZ Firefly Survey Sg Sibuti, Sibuti Wildlife Sanctuary 10-11th April

The sight of several thousand fireflies twinkling along a riverbank is a magical experience, one that draws in tourists, both local and foreign.

Malaysia is one of the few South-East Asian countries with fireflies that congregate on “display trees” along both sides of mangrove-lined rivers. The insects can even be found congregating up to 100m inland from the riverbank where they breed.

As Malaysia is at the centre of the firefly region that stretches from India to Papua New Guinea, we are fortunate to have a relatively high diversity of the insect. Of the over 20 species of fireflies, Malaysia hosts seven. Of these, the most familiar would be the Pteroptyx tener, also known as the congregating or synchronous firefly.

These fireflies typically congregate in groups along riverbanks and synchronise their flashes, thereby creating the light display that so many people gather to witness.

MNS Miri Branch is proposing to conduct a CFZ : Firefly survey along Sg Sibuti bordering Sibuti Wildlife Sanctuary together with interested SWS staff and members overnite 10-11th April.

Our proposed program:
10th April
1600hrs Participants meet in designated area and travel to Sibuti Wildlife Sanctuary
1700hrs Unpack and load up the boat
1800hrs Quick dinner
1830hrs Commence firefly survey from SWS park jetty to Sg Sibuti estuary mouth .
2230hrs Berth at Kpg Kuala Sibuti and overnite

11th April
0530hrs Wake up call
0830hrs Commence return trip to SWS and birdwatch along Sg Sibuti
1100hrs Arrival at SWS jetty, return to Miri

Encik Musa Musbah, Miri Branch CFZ focal point will be leading the survey and we hope to share the technique, methodologies with the participants in the effort to share firefly information with participants. This will also be the best opportunity to id some of the firefly species in the area. Musa has already recce'd most of the likely firefly sites around Miri and start leading full scale survey this year.

We hope to garner more support to conduct similar surveys in other big rivers within and outside the national park system for the remainder of 2010.

If you are intrested to be a part of MNS Miri CFZ work, please email us at mnsmiri at yahoo dot com.

Nazeri Abghani, MNS Miri, April 2010

Fire Watching in Bright Moonlight Night 1 Apr 2010

Last Night after watching "Clash of The Titan" at Cinima plex we went to Kuala Sibuti, mangrove,it was a bright moonlit night. No wind and dry. Not many seen at the same spot where we noted many previously.