Day Trip #5 - Taman Tasik Permaisuri : Heronry Survey & General Birding

Written By Marlina Jamal

Club members and friends [Photo credits: Tang Tuck Hong]

The Wild Bird Club Malaysia (WBCM) organised a day trip to Taman Tasik Permaisuri as part of our club activities on 29 August 2026. About 18 members and friends participated in this outing. Taman Tasik Permaisuri is a very important bird habitat in Kuala Lumpur and is also an important eBird hotspot, with 129 species recorded based on 398 checklists contributed by birders or birdwatchers, including international tourists.

Location Map

 

Heronry Survey

Date and Time 29th Aug 2026, 0753 - 0825h
Location Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
No. of Participants 18
No. of Species Observed 6
eBird Checklist View Checklist

Briefing to WBCM members before starting [Photo credits: Andy Lee Kok Lean]

Among the unique specialties of this park, is the presence of a heronry that serves as an important breeding area for waterbirds.

Survey Results

Our members counted the birds and the nests on the island for a fixed time period between 7.53 am and 8.25 am and arrived at the following estimates:

No. Species Estimated Count Status under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716)
1 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 83 total. 62 adults, 21 juveniles Totally Protected Species (Schedule 2)
2 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 51 total. 31 adults, 20 juveniles Totally Protected Species (Schedule 2)
3 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 13 adults Totally Protected Species (Schedule 2)
4 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 6 adults Totally Protected Species (Schedule 2)
5 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1 adult Totally Protected Species (Schedule 2)
6 House Crow Corvus splendens 1 Not applicable

About 79 nests were counted at the heronry, which were occupied by the first 4 of the 6 species listed above. These numbers are only estimates due to the movement of birds in and out and the possibility of hidden nests or some “double counting”.

Painted Stork feeding its young [Photo credit : Lee SL]

Painted Stork feeding its young [Photo credit : Lee SL]

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax [Photo credits: Liew Chee Kuan]

General Birding Activities

Date and Time 29th Aug 2026, 0859 - 1050h
Location Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
No. of Participants 18
No. of Species Observed 20
eBird Checklist View Checklist

Apart from the heronry, Taman Tasik Pemaisuri is also rich with many other species that are not so easy to find in the city of Kuala Lumpur. The park is also the breeding spot for the Buffy Fish OwlKetupa ketupu and the Barred Eagle-Owl Ketupa sumatrana, both of which had recently-fledged juvenile birds.

Besides the above species, bird species that were recorded in the eBird database in this park include the Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus, Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster, and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus as well as migratory species such as the Amur Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone incei, Blue-winged Pitta Pitta moluccensis and Asian Brown Flycatcher. Besides birds, other wildlife known to exist include the Water Monitor, Plantain Squirrel and the Smooth-coated Otter.

Trip Conclusion

Taman Tasik Permaisuri in early morning light. [Photo credits: Tang Tuck Hong]

In summary, Taman Tasik Permaisuri is rich with birdlife and is a top choice for many breeding species, whether forest birds or water birds. It is hoped that these habitats and nesting sites can be protected and be free from any disturbances so that they can continue to attract birders and nature lovers alike.

Bird and wildlife habitats are best preserved naturally with native plants and flowers allowed to grow naturally, and this will encourage insects, birds and wildlife to make it their natural home. Such places are best protected and left undisturbed.

Marlina Jamal
Next

Day Trip #2 2026 - Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam