JERANTUT, March 17 — The National Park in Kuala Tahan here will be turned into a second bird watching centre in the state after Frazer's Hill to add more ecotourism products in the state.

Pahang Tourism Ministry office director Edros Yahya, said there were 479 species of birds at the National Park, including seven migrant birds.

“Seven species of migrant birds include the Cattle Egret, Black Baza and Blue-throated Bee-eater. The birds are said to originate in the cold north and stop over here on their way south from September to December before going home to lay eggs,” he said after closing a 'Taman Negara Bird Count' programme organised by the Pahang National Park Tourism Operators Association here, today.

He was confident the National Park would become a popular destination among bird enthusiasts because the species found were different from those at Frazer's Hill.

Edros said the first international bird watching activity would be held in the National Park on Sept 26, in conjunction with the 75th year celebration of the Kuala Tahan National Park.

He also urged tourist guides to Taman Negara to brush up on their knowledge of birds available there, in preparation for an expected influx of tourists.  — Bernama