Sungai Raan Display Trees Revisited 11 Feb 2019

Sungai Raan is 20 kilometers Southwest of Miri. Two kilometer of river was surveyed in 2010 as part of our CFZ project. To make a new fireflies display tree survey at Sungai Raan river is very important. The general feeling is that Miri firefly populations are dwindling. The baseline and first night time assessment of Fireflies at Sungai Raan was done on the 06th Jan 2010.

The finding were the river have a two sections bearing fireflies display trees. Upper section is a long shore river system and going up near the bridge of the main road and lower section is close to the river mouth.

Upper Section the round one done in 2010 the upside down tears 2019 display trees

The 2010 survey showed the lower section having 13 display trees and the lower section having 8 display trees.

Lower Section the round one done in 2010 the upside down tears 2019 display trees

After 8 years since the last survey at this river, there is a need to revisit the river to find out if there are any changes to the display trees discovered in the last survey. The area at the estuary showed some indications of development : shop-houses and a new water front. This is a treat to the first section of the river where the fireflies display trees are located. The middle section is a concentration of housing with jetties for fishing boats some servicing the nearby houses. Now there is also a swift-let house which are becoming more common.

We have an opportunity to come back to the river on the 11 Feb 2019 with students University Kebangsaan Malaysia interested to study Petrotyx tener. I was very pleased to have with me two students and a professor on this trip to Sungai Raan.

The day of choice is very good for a firefly look and see, having a 30% waxing crescent and a neap tide period. A neap tide is a bit risky for the boat to maneuver because of the shallow river bed. We booked a boat a week earlier from Rahman Jemin. We set our meeting at 5 pm so that we could have a day time tree survey taking note of the types of trees that line up the river. It is a surprise to me to see the Bakam river bank being turned into a beautiful waterfront. The boat landing is at Bakam river. Sungai Raan shares the same estuary with Sungai Bakam.

Sungai Bakam waterfront

As we ride along Sungai Bakam towards the estuary we entered  Sungai Raan we saw a huge round building under construction in front of the river mouth. We entered Sungai Raan and took notes of mangroves tree types that line the river bank. Not much changes seen along the river if it was not for the swiftlet farm. We finished the daytime tree survey and returned into Sungai Bakam jetty. We took our dinner at the food stall nearby.

The dinner was good, at around 7:30 pm we went to Bakam jetty and headed into Sungai Raan. I was a bit nervous when I didn't notice the first couple of display trees. However when we crossed under the bridge I saw a twinkling of sporadic flashes of fireflies at the left side of the river just at the end of the bridge. I was very happy to see this first fireflies display tree. Soon we passed six display trees. The population was not many, only between 10 and 20 individuals. The last display tree is the same tree that was recorded in 2010.

We passed the mid section and the area did not bear any fireflies despite a few caseolaris and rhizophora trees. We passed quickly along this section. At the upper section we passed 3 old display tree void of fireflies. The 4th tree having the first display and we went along until we reached a shallow section. This section only bore six display trees. Wind-speed , water ph and salinity and temperature were recorded at all sampling points. We finished our survey at around 9:30 pm and drove back to Miri.

A new structure under construction at Bakam Estuary

Berembang tree still standing seen during day time assessment

New fishstall

Kampong folks lining the water front

Fireflies at day time assessment

One of the sophisticated equipment

Sampling in action

Discussion

Dr Norela Sulaiman and Atika

Wind speed and water temperature and pH reading

Water front andd new structure

Words and images by Musa Musbah.

Miri River Firefly Revisited 6th Jan 2019

Miri Firefly Survey 6th. Jan 2019

Survey of 17Km of Sungai Miri from Taniku Ferry to Piasau Utara

Participants: Jacey Yap, Annis Lee, Brain Parker, Josue bin Bandai, Arpat and Musa Musbah.

Display trees along a section of Sungai Miri.

The first ever firefly reconnaisance at Sungai Miri was carried out between Pujut Corner up until the section where the Bakun Power Line crosses Sungai Miri. I found rows of synchronous fireflies display trees on both sides of the river. I took some samples and several specimens were preserved. At the time, I did not yet know how to conduct a firefly survey, it was my first congregating firefly survey.With me doing this recee were Suria Timon, Nazeri Jaraee and Pak Par the boat man.

This is one of the sample preserved from the area

Sungai Miri WPTs and display trees from 2010.

After attending a firefly symposium and identification course for two weeks in KL, I executed Miri's first (if not Northern Sarawak) proper firefly survey for the main section of Miri river of about 15 kms from Taniku ferry point to Mat Shah Jetty on the 10th July 2010. A good survey record was achieved together with several Curtin students, Faye Othman (MNS Miri member). The students from Curtin were Aju, Salam, Faiz Nasir, and Faiz Djamil. These young students were very observant, we recorded a total of 283 congregating firefly trees along survey’s length.

Sungai Miri survey route.

The second survey was executed by a group of firefly symposium attendees from Kuala Lumpur. They were made up of several firefly experts coming to Miri to see what I have told them about Miri river fireflies during the symposium. They were Lynn Faust from the United States, while Luis Vasconcelos, Maria and Jose were from Portugal. We carried out the survey again on the 10th Aug 2010. At the end of it, we recorded 101 congregating firefly trees along 16 km of Sungai Miri. The number of trees marked were less this time around. This was due to some gps waypoints not being properly logged when overexcitement at seeing so many display trees overcame all of us.

Most of the river bank still contain a good Display trees

Due to many new commitments I have not carried out any firefly surveys since late 2011, it has been almost 8 years now. Recently I felt that I had to do a factfinding firefly boat trip rather than a full survey over the same section of Sungai Miri.

I called Ian of Coco-dive to sponsor a boat, which he kindly agreed to. I was so excited at the prospect of being able to go back to Sungai Miri and seeing the fireflies again. With the help of MNS members, Jacey and Brain, I acquired new batteries for my night vision scope and a new aquarium thermometer to get water temperature readings ready for night out on the river with fireflies.

All was set to take place on the 6th of January 2019, deemed the best day for this which correlated well with the feeding window of fish and other animals. During this dark moon period all faunas are active feeding and fireflies should be in the same state.

New measurement

Tide table for Miri for the day.

Jacey Yap was assigned as a recorder, and I as coordinator. Anis Lee was tasked with logging waypoints, while Achmed was tasked with locating distant firefly trees using the nightvision scope to warn us in advance of any approaching display trees. Brain was given the job of taking sample fireflies within reach of the scoop net that we used for collecting samples. 

Checking our survey gear.

Unfortunately late during the day of the survey Achmed called to cancel his participation due to an unforeseen emergency at his worksite. I called two other interested MNS Members who were on the list for the survey but both individuals were not contactable at the time.

By 5pm, the others and I gathered at the jetty. Jimmy Yong the Coco-dive Boat Manager with his daughter Isabelle came to the jetty to see us depart. We took a group photo and later handed out the instruments to the participants fitting the preassigned tasks. During the trip I discovered that my GPS unit had an issue with problem with unstable battery contact, so it was decided to just leave it on the boat bench. Brain was reassigned to get water samples and pH readings.

Group photo with Jimmy the Coco-dive manager

We left the Piasau Utara jetty at 17:25hrs using a powerful and quiet 140HP four strokes Suzuki outboard engine. We cruised fast towards Taniku ferry point some 17 kilometres away and reached the site at 18:19hrs. While waiting for darkness to fall we took water samples to read pH and specific gravity. Water was light brown having Sg of 1 and pH of 5.

Before set sail to Taniku Ferry

What surprised us while cruising along the river was that there seemed to be no birds flying. Only the sounds made by two frog species and a White Breasted Waterhen were heard.  We did not hear any splashes of fish on the water feeding, we also saw several moths.

 Brain has a beautiful note given to me as follows.

"As an observer invited on last nights evening boat trip with Musa, I found the river devoid of any form of life. Any healthy stretch of water anywhere the size of Miri river, should, at that time in the evening and night should be alive with natural sound, fish jumping, insects and creatures. Any type of reptile surviving in this river would probably be scavenging the stuff thrown away by the human inhabitants living alongside the banks.”

Brain reading pH

At 19:08hrs we started to move. It has been long time since I used the nightvision scope. I mistook sparkles of light in the trees and thought they were fireflies, which later turned out to be stars fleeting between the leaves. After moving some 100 meters, I started to sense that something was not quite right. There were no congregating fireflies observed along the stretch of familiar display trees of several years back.

The first lone firefly seen and first WPT433 was logged. All along the way we only see single firefly fleeting about. Thus I came to the conclusion they are rovers, a single flying firefly. Only after nine WPTs we saw rovers. At this section we saw a single crocodile yearling and logged WPT448.

Jacey getting ready to log and take notes

All the way after WPT 449 we did not see any congregating fireflies though many familiar congregating trees were spotted, not a single firefly was seen.

I readjusted the night vision scope I and looked hard, but not avail. There were no fireflies spotted.
It was clear that the best rows of congregating fireflies at Sonneratia caseolaris and hibiscus bush along the river bank trees were supposed to have very good display of synchronizing firefly of the Pteroptyx tener (Olivier, 1907) specie. As my sample of Miri-13 was taken from this area. This area was well lit by a swift farm security lighting.

You can you imagine trying to hear your partner speaking while someone else is playing very loud music. Firefly needs darkness to communicate, this section was definitely not ideal for them. The water quality in the vicinity could also be another contributing factor.

Where are the fireflies display

I was devastated that I nearly cried. Passing Pujut settlement area, even Pujut 7 bridge area was supposed to have congregation of fireflies.  There were no fireflies on the previously logged display trees.

Passing Kpg Pengkalan, the waterfront was lighted so brightly it seemed like it was daytime. The display trees as well were devoid of fireflies. My hope was another area next of Lutong Bridge where another synchronous group display at a low Sonneratia caseolaris.  It was unfortunately bright there too. A brightly lit disco faces right into the riverfront.

I had high hopes for the area near the old Lutong Airport and the Piasau Nature Reserve on the river side. “Wouldn’t it be great for the PNR to have a stretch of river with congregating fireflies alongside it?”, I wishfully thought. From afar I saw through my night vision the lights of Bayshore and Kpg Piasau Utara residential area dominated the entire area, my high hopes quickly dashed. There were no displaying fireflies.

Where have all the fireflies gone? It is very sad to think that these indicator species have all moved away from their 2010 locations which incidentally could be described as being well within Miri Resort city limits.

Clearly we need to study this section again … it would be the saddest thing if indeed all the fireflies had left Sungai Miri … could their departure be telling us something more ominous?

2019 Survey route and WPTs.

Data collected during the survey

PHYSICAL CONDITION:

a. Moon-phase : New moon

b. Weather: Calm no wind, till the end of survey.

Air temperature 28.3 ° C

Water temperature 28.9 ° C

Water pH : 5 at starting position , end was 5

Specific gravity: is 1.0 at start and End Location.

c. River Condition Current: High tides, not moving, clear tanning water.

Outboard engine used: Suzuki 140 hp

Survey Average Speed 8.2 Km/hr.

Survey length 16.9 km

Survey period 2 hr 11 minutes.

No haze

Fauna seen/heard: White breasted water-hen and frogs croaking

No congregating fireflies display tree seen

Eight roving fireflies seen location logged

Only a single collared kingfisher was seen crossing a river at Taniku

Six Crocodiles yearling sighted

One grown up crocodiles

Location

WPT North East Date Time Side Remarks

437 4.413273 114.0598 6-Jan-19 19:11:00 Left firefly

438 4.412016 114.0563 6-Jan-19 19:15:13 Left firefly

439 4.410466 114.0556 6-Jan-19 19:17:58 Left firefly

441 4.409840 114.0542 6-Jan-19 19:20:48 Left firefly

443 4.408725 114.0528 6-Jan-19 19:24:17 Left firefly

444 4.406509 114.0505 6-Jan-19 19:28:04 Left firefly

445 4.408046 114.0493 6-Jan-19 19:29:56 Left Crocodile yearling

446 4.410071 114.0492 6-Jan-19 19:32:03 Left firefly

447 4.411060 114.0483 6-Jan-19 19:34:09 Left Smoke from farm

448 4.409529 114.0453 6-Jan-19 19:37:34 Left Crocodile yearling

449 4.409565 114.0421 6-Jan-19 19:40:27 Left Firefly

455 4.461589 114.0157 6-Jan-19 20:44:58 Right Crocodile yearling

456 4.461907 114.0155 6-Jan-19 20:45:17 Right Crocodile yearling

459 4.468395 114.0110 6-Jan-19 20:51:29 Left Large crocodile

460 4.465542 114.0091 6-Jan-19 20:54:59 Left Crocodile yearling

461 4.463595 114.0098 6-Jan-19 20:56:24 Left Crocodile yearling


Text and photographs by : Musa Musbah MNS Miri Chairman 2019

Edited by : Mairead Borland
Compiled : Nazeri Ab Ghani

Kadulit Kanan New Bridge

Have not been to this Area. Last evening (20 Jan 2013) we went there to see if fireflise still around. Yes indeed they are still around trees along the river. The Display trees are now far away from the road and still we could see fireflies in the trees. We would go there one of these days to re photograph the new fireflies tree. Kadulit Kanan Nwe Bairley Bridge

CFZNSS : Introduction and Objectives

Introduction :

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.Places like Kuala Selangor have made firefly-watching a lucrative tourist attraction since the 1980s.

What most people don’t know is that many other congregating firefly habitats in Malaysia are slowly being wiped out, both by ignorance and irresponsible development.

There is every little information if any on fireflies in Sarawak. Initial recces that have been carried out by MNS Miri Branch during Dec 2009-April 2010 discovered that there’s significant scope for the branch to be able to contribute and populate important data on fireflies distribution in Sarawak, specifically those within the Miri-Bintulu area.

This project proposes to conduct surveys along the rivers within the Northern Divisons to get a clearer picture of the presence of fireflies in Sarawak; as well as collect samples for identification.

The project has been solely carried out by MNS Miri Branch members with input from Sonny Wong, MNS Conservation and Dr Mahadi Menakbar Dawood, UMS.

Objectives:

1) Conduct a survey of the northern region of the state of Sarawak to identify key congregating firefly zones and to identify and count firefly display trees during the period of October 2010 to March 2011.

2) Produce a report on the findings of the survey which can function as a basis for future policy and management strategies for wetlands and waterbirds in Sarawak.

3) Build capacity of members, participating stakeholders and volunteers in firefly identification, monitoring and riverine ecosystem surveys.

4) Increase awareness of the importance of the Sarawak river ecosystem at local, national levels through CEPA, training, publications and sharing of output with stakeholders and relevant organisations.

5) Forge working relationships in matters related to fireflies diversity, and wetland habitat conservation between MNS and other NGOs, government agencies in northern Sarawak.

6) Document the process of the survey, from initiation to completion, as a model for replication in other areas of Sarawak.

Musa Musbah, CFZNSS Project Executor giving a presentation on CFZ and fireflies to students from four schools in Bungai during one of our community outreach program (COP).

CONGREGATING FIREFLY ZONE NORTHERN SARAWAK SURVEY REPORT

After several false starts, the The CFZ Northern Sarawak Survey Report has been finalised. For those of you who are following the progress of the work done, we'll published snippets of it here on this blog.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people who together have made the one year long project a worthwhile undertaking on many more levels than just building firefly database for Northern Sarawak:

Musa Musbah, MNS Miri Branch/Project Executor

Faye Osman,, MNS Miri Branch

Anura Dason, MNS Miri Branch

Sara Wong, MNS Miri Branch

Dominique Dodge-Wan, MNS Miri Branch

Sim Yuh Thin, MNS Miri Branch

Nurziana Abdullah Sani, MNS Miri Branch

Rosie Kassim, MNS Miri Branch

Lee Bor Seng , MNS Miri Branch

Tracy Kho, MNS Miri Branch

Joyce Sivalingam, MNS Miri Branch

Clarissa Loke, MNS Miri Branch

Sonny Wong, MNS HQ

Kamal Abdullah, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Miri)

Remli Adenan, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Miri)

Samantha Kwan, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Miri)

Kamil Tahir, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Miri)

Haidar Ali, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Miri)

John MacKenzie, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Miri)

Anne King, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Norhider Julaihi, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Jocelyn Jonip, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Elan Ngalang , Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Nyareng Kalau, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Julaini Omar, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Vincent Jihem, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Abd Rahim Hassan, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Bintulu)

Dr Mahadimenakbar Daud, University Malaysia Sabah

Robert Yeoh, MNS Kuching

Tham Chee Keong, Nature and Science Society Bintulu

Clift Edison, Nature and Science Society Bintulu

Nazur Riza Nurkaman, Curtin University

Salam, Curtin University

Faiz Nasir, Curtin University

Faiz Jamil, Curtin University

Lynn Faust, Firefly Researcher (USA)

Luis Vasconcelos, Firefly Researcher (Portugal)

Maria, Firefly Researcher (Portugal)

Jose Fidalgo, Firefly Researcher (Portugal)

Rebecca D’Cruz, MNS Kuching Branch/Project Oversight1

Maye Yap, MNS Secretariat/Project Oversight2

Nazeri Abghani, MNS Miri Branch/Project Lead

Those named above have collectively contributed to much of this first CFZ work in Northern Division. This project has been funded by MNS Merdeka Fund, with in-kind contribution from Sarawak Forestry Corporation Miri and Bintulu Regional Offices.

We would like to put it to record our sincere gratitude to Encik Abg Arabi Hj Imran, Regional Manager, Sarawak Forestry Corporation Miri Regional Office and Encik Mohd Jirin Anis, Regional Manager, Sarawak Forestry Corporation Bintulu Regional Office for extending their full support to our Congregating Firefly Zone activities in the Northern Division. It is hope that with their continued strong support and contribution, Malaysian Nature Society would be poised to continue similar collaborations in the future.