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Even just a quick glance at a copy of Craig Robson's "A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand" will alert birdwatchers to the large number of species present in Thailand and, indeed, those making their first trip to the country may be excused for thinking that they will get off the plane and be bombarded by a vast array of colourful and exotic birds. Unfortunately, this is not the case and many birders have commented on what they perceived to be a general lack of birds. Although to many European visitors there can appear to be a lack of birds, particularly gulls and ducks which are so common in many northern latitudes, Thailand is in fact blessed with a particularly rich avifauna and, in contrast to many Asian nations, birds outside of protected areas are relatively abundant.

A combination of the unfamiliar climate and vegetation is to blame for many visiting birdwatchers finding birds so difficult to locate, with intense heat during the day making birds very hard to find outside of the dawn and dusk periods of peak activity and dense vegetation with a high canopy making it difficult to spot birds even when they are close by.

Here I have attempted to give ten tips that will help birdwatchers make the most of their stay in Thailand and identify as many species as possible.

3. Get up early: The importance of this cannot be overstated: the sun rises between 6 and 7 am and by 9.30 to 10.30 am bird activity, particularly in forests, has noticeably decreased. Don't make the mistake of having a lie-in and going birding after a sedate breakfast - you will see very little and become uncomfortably hot. The period before dusk (about 2-3 hours before sunset) can also be good for birdwatching, but the level of bird activity rarely becomes as intense as the early mornings.

Having said this, birders who stay out all day will see more species than those who retire for an afternoon nap, and by getting to a good raptor watch site or wetland, the most can be made of the afternoon period. Be sure to take plenty of water and sunscreen!

4. Learn some bird calls: With such a huge number of species present, and the skulking nature of many of them, it is important to learn the calls of some species. It is a very good idea to learn the calls of any target species you may have and also of secretive ground-dwelling species such as Pittas.

Another good practice is to quickly learn the calls of the most common species, so that when something unusual is heard one can concentrate upon finding the species that made it.

Using taped bird calls can be an effective way of finding some difficult species, but quite frankly, at some locations in Thailand this practice has become quite abused; I'm told that using taped calls at a stake-out for Rusty-naped Pitta near Malee's at Doi Chiang Dao became such a problem that eventually the bird abandoned it territory. Please be sparing in this practice and completely refrain from doing it in areas that receive large numbers of other birdwatchers.

5. Be quiet and vigilant: Birding in tropical forests can be really frustrating at times and it is possible to walk for an hour without seeing anything. Walking slowly and quietly will help birders locate species as it is easy to detect movements by ear or sight. However, it is a good strategy to occasionally stop and wait for birds to come into view, particularly in an area where there may be a good food or water source.

When walking it is good practice to lift one's feet at each step to avoid making noisy rustling sounds and of course, if birdwatching in company only speak very quietly and only when necessary.

Occasionally, it is advisable to walk briskly, but quietly, along a trail in order to surprise species that become aware of your presence very quickly, even when quiet.

7. Wear the right clothes: Wearing appropriate clothing will help birders remain comfortable and devote more energy and attention to finding birds. Long-sleeved cotton shirts are advisable for dealing with sweat and preventing insect bites. Similarly, canvas trousers are suitable for walking through grasslands and forest (avoid shorts), and army trousers are particularly good at drying quickly, even in humid atmospheres. In the rainy season leech socks are an excellent addition to the birder's wardrobe; although lecches are harmless they are fairly unpleasant and can prove a real distraction in some lowland forest regions, most notably Khao Sok and Hala-Bala.

8. Carry an umbrella: An umbrella is a useful tool for birdwatchers in Thailand. Umbrellas can be used to give shade from the sun in exposed areas as well as protect from the rain. Some people will opt for coats of some design to avoid a soaking but the disadvantage is that the hoods obstruct hearing and create rustling noises that can be mistaking for foraging birds. An umbrella with a hook at the handle's end is best as it can hook onto a day pack and this type is also sturdy enough to be used for bashing unruly dogs or moving spiky vines aside

9. Don't get lost: Rather an obvious statement, but sticking to well-worn trails can be good practice as these are usually free from fallen leaves and twigs that will make a noise when walking. Following streams or gulleys can be very useful as some secretive species stick to these areas and they are easily followed. However, stepping off the main trail in forested areas can result in getting lost remarkably quickly as vegetation can be extremely dense. If one gets lost in this fashion then it can take ages to find one's way and by then the best of the day's birding has passed.

Sticking to main trails also reduces the likelihood of wandering onto private land and getting into trouble.

10. Submit your records: By submitting your records I can keep the latest sightings section of thaibirding.com as up-to-date as possible and others will be able to make use of the information when planning their own trips. Additionally, these records are sent to the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand for their records.

There are very few sightings submitted between the months of May and November, so almost anything from this period is of interest.

nickupton@thaibirdingcom

These are just ten useful ideas that will help birders enjoy their experience in Thailand, but I'm sure there are more. If anyone has anything to add to this list please e-mail me with your suggestions and I'll happily add to it.

Nick Upton 28th June 2007