Birds in Peatswamp at Klias Forest Reserve and Environs, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Periodically from 1998-2004, we surveyed birds in the Klias Forest Reserve, which is one of the last remaining pockets of peatswamp in western Sabah. We report here on those surveys. We also review prior work on birds in peatswamp and swamp forest in the Klias-Sipitang region of Sabah as it relates to the conservation of habitat and birds specialized on peatswamp. Peatswamp forest is in jeopardy from development and fires throughout Borneo, and particularly in the Malaysian State of Sabah, which had very little to start. Peatswamp in the Klias area is of particular importance for conservation and bird watching because Klias is close to the main tourist center of Borneo, Kota Kinabalu, and is the only easily accessible site for reliable sightings of Hook-billed Bulbul (Setornis criniger), Grey-breasted Babbler, (Malacopteron albogulare), and Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus thoracicus) in Sabah.