Raptor Watch 2025 : A Mycology Event at Tanjung Tuan

By -

Abstract The Raptor Watch event is a significant birdwatching tradition at the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, taking place at the renowned Cape Rachado Lighthouse. On March 8th and 9th, 2025, a team of experts and enthusiasts, organized by the Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch Mycology Special Interest Group (MNSSB Mycology SIG), participated at the event that included exhibitions, fungi photography, and identification, along with guided tours. The primary goal of the event is to enhance public understanding, appreciation, and conservation of fungi. It also aims to collaborate with other organizations to enhance public outreach for nature conservation.

Introduction

Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve in Port Dickson is a favored weekend destination, particularly for families, campers, and nature enthusiasts from Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. The Raptor Watch festival celebrates the arrival of migratory birds of prey, commonly referred to as raptors, as they make their way back to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere. This annual public event aims to promote awareness about the conservation of raptors and their habitats.

On March 8th and 9th, 2025, the Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch Mycology Special Interest Group (MNSSB Mycology Group), along with various government and non-government organizations focused on nature conservation, participated in the event, which featured a series of activities including exhibitions, fungi photography, identification, and guided tours.

The activities organized by the MNSSB Mycology Group aim to educate the public about fungi while promoting their appreciation and conservation. They collaborate with other organizations to enhance public outreach for nature conservation.


MNSSB Mycology SIG Members: Group Leader Loon Yit Hong (center), Committee Members Jacqueline Low (2nd from the left), Chan Chee Keong (4th from the left), Luca Pilia (3rd from the right), Azamuddeen Nasir (2nd from the right) and volunteers.


MNSSB Mycology exhibition booth featuring edible mushroom specimens, fungi reference guides, and highlights from past group events.

Event Highlights

Booth Exhibition

The MNSSB Mycology booth attracts frequent visits from international and local participants with diverse backgrounds, including nature conservation specialists, school children, and the general public.

The main attractions are the edible mushrooms that grow on mycelium blocks and the fascinating Cordyceps fungi found on insect specimens. Fungi photography techniques are demonstrated to visitors to help with easier identification of fungi.

MNSSB Mycology exhibition booth featuring edible mushroom specimens (Shiitake and Lion’s Mane mushrooms – sponsored by 7Stars Mushroom Sdn. Bhd.) and fungi reference guides.

MNSSB Mycology exhibition booth featuring photography techniques for capturing Cordyceps fungi using the OM System OM-1 paired with the M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens (sponsored by OMD World Imaging (M) Sdn. Bhd.).

MNSSB Flora Group exhibition booth featuring experienced botanist, Lim Koon Hup (right).

MNSSB Mycology Group exhibition booth showcasing marine specialists, Leong Yeng Khuen (2nd from the right) and Kok Yu Ling (right), along with a pioneering mycology photographer, Max Bambang Loo (center). 

Guided Tours

The guided tours offered over the two days are split into morning and afternoon sessions, featuring approximately 1 to 1.5 hours of walking on the park's main trails. All sessions were fully booked by visitors on the day and the day before, with a limit of 15 participants per session. Additionally, there was a special session for school delegates from SMK (P) Methodist Melaka, which included 40 participating teenage students and teachers. 

Many fascinating mushrooms were spotted during the tours, including Amanita sp., Russula sp., Tylopilus sp., Phylloporus sp., Lepiota sp., various Polypores and more.

Briefing and information sharing to the school delegates before the tour begin by MNSSB Group Leader.

Participants have the opportunity to take photographs of the mushrooms using the new technique they have learned.


Participants can observe a Bolete mushroom changing color when it is cut by the mycologist, Luca Pilia (right).


Mycologist, Luca Pilia (2nd from the left) explains to the participants on a fungi spotted on the tour.

Russula sp. (Green Brittlegills) that biofluoresce green under UV light. (Photos by Loon Yit Hong)

Amanita sp. (Photo by Jacqueline Low)


Tylopilus sp. (Photos by Jacqueline Low)


Polypore Fungi (Photos by Jacqueline Low)

Pterula sp. (Photos by Jacqueline Low)

Hymenagaricus splendidissimus (Photos by Loon Yit Hong)

Phylloporus sp. (Photo by Loon Yit Hong)

Crepidotus sp. (Photo by Loon Yit Hong)


Conclusion

The event successfully documented rich fungal diversity in the forest despite surveying briefly. Through engagement with members and participants, the aim was to provide the public with an understanding, appreciation, and conservation of fungi. It also aims to collaborate with other organizations to enhance public outreach for nature conservation.


Acknowledgment

Loon Yit Hong (Event Organizer and MNSSB Mycology Lead Coordinator)
Jacqueline Low (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Chan Chee Keong (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Azamuddeen Nasir (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Luca Pilia (Mycologist and MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Malaysian Nature Society
Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch (MNSSB)
Kelab Pencinta Alam
SMK (P) Methodist Melaka
Event volunteers: Kho Wui Kiong, Ooi Bak Keong, Cheah Lan Shy, Soon Mei Li, Celine Teoh and Alyaa.
Event participants and families.

Sponsors

7Stars Mushroom Sdn. Bhd
OMD World Imaging (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Hi, I'm Loon, a fungi enthusiast who loves exploring, discovering, and hunting mushrooms. Reading and studying about fungi keeps my curiosity alive about the wonders of nature.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Recap of Our Inaugural Mycology Group Event at SACF

By -
Image
On Sunday, September 29th, 2024, the MNS Selangor Branch Mycology Group proudly held its inaugural event at Setia Alam Community Forest, welcoming an enthusiastic group of participants.  Split into three groups, we hiked a good distance to reach the scenic Peak Garden, all while showcasing fascinating collections along the way.  Although rain from the previous night had us wondering about the morning conditions, the skies turned out beautifully clear—perhaps a bit too clear, as the sun added an extra challenge to the trek.  Nevertheless, everyone pressed on with determination, discovering some interesting species. Despite the scarcity of mushrooms, we pulled together a table brimming with specimens, including some unique finds destined for sequencing. Pink fluorescence on the underside of Sanguinoderma rugosum One highlight was using UV light to reveal the stunning pink fluorescence on the underside of Sanguinoderma rugosum , a Blood-Red Stalked Bracket fungus that bruise...
Read more

Uncovering Hidden Diversity: A Collaborative Fungi Survey at Bukit Dinding

By -
Image
On October 13th, 2024, the Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch (MNSSB) Mycology Special Interest Group (SIG) conducted a fungi survey at Bukit Dinding. A team of 10 participants spent over 5.5 hours exploring the tarmac route and the Senior Citizens Trail, covering a total distance of 6.7 kilometers. Despite surveying just a small section of the hill, we made 175 observations and confidently recorded 52 different species of fungi , with more still to be identified. Before our survey, Bukit Dinding had only 12 observations of fungi on the iNaturalist platform, representing 10 species from 5 observers. Thanks to our group’s efforts, this number has now grown to 195 observations and 58 species , contributed by 9 observers (with many more still to be uploaded). The findings from this survey provide a snapshot of the incredible fungal diversity at Bukit Dinding, even in the more accessible areas of the hill. Our results have been uploaded to the Bukit Dinding Fungi Survey Project on iN...
Read more

Fungi in the Forest: A Community Foray at Sungai Congkak

By -
Image
Abstract Fungi are of great importance in ecology and economy. On February 15, 2025, a group of experts and enthusiasts organized by the Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch Mycology Special Interest Group (MNSSB Mycology SIG) conducted a guided walk at Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest Park, Malaysia. The event's main objective is to provide the public with an understanding, appreciation, and conservation of fungi. It also provides comprehensive education, innovative research, and community engagement, which makes mycology accessible to everyone. Introduction Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest Park (Sg. Congkak) is a popular weekend getaway, especially for families, campers, and nature lovers residing in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. It is located in a cool and hilly area of Hulu Langat, Malaysia. Its 5 hectares of dipterocarp rainforest is part of the great Titiwangsa mountain range. Therefore, it is an ideal location for a community engagement event focusing on fungi awarene...
Read more