Open to the Public
The Black Partridge is one of the least known bird species in Southeast Asia, represented by handful of observations and mostly camera trap images in recent years. Lack of information of its call has made it even harder to detect by researchers working in the lowland forests of the region. The species is largely a specialist bird of peat swamp forests, a habitat that is fast disappearing across the region, and yet can be incredibly hard to access for birdwatchers.
At this talk, Prayitno Goenarto, a biologist working in the tropical forests of Indonesia, shares his latest insights on the natural history of this enigmatic species. Having worked in the peat swamps of Riau Province in Sumatra, Prayitno is one of few lucky individuals to have encountered the species in the wild, and also document its little studied vocalisations. Join this talk, not only to learn about the partridge, but also the peat swamp habitat it inhabits, and some of the biodiversity that share this species-rich environment.
Speaker: Prayitno Goenarto
Prayitno Goenarto is a dedicated field biologist and conservationist with a love for birds, citizen science, and less-visited forests. He first contracted the birding “itch” while completing his BSc in McGill, Canada before returning home to Indonesia. His work has taken him deep into the peat swamp forests of Sumatra, where he has led restoration and biodiversity monitoring over 150,000 hectares of critical habitat encompassing part of the designated Siak-Kampar IBA/KBA.
A firm believer in science-based action, he’s developed species monitoring programs, coordinated bird-banding studies, and helped rescue and radio-track an injured Sumatran Tiger. His research on peatland biodiversity and rare bird sightings has been shared at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Particular interest is towards utilising camera traps to monitor ground-dwelling birds and poorly-studied species. Currently based in Singapore, Prayitno continues to work in the nature-based solution space with projects in the Philippines focusing on the Philippine Eagle and other threatened taxa. When not in the field, he’s probably checking eBird, editing photos and recordings, or reading bird books with his 2 year old son.
Host: Yong Ding Li
Registration
To attend, please register at: https://tinyurl.com/NSSTalk1
Note:
• Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• Registration will close once the maximum number of participants is reached, or on closing date.
• Only confirmed participants will be contacted by email, after the closing date.
Max. No. of Participants
30 pax
Closing Date
29 Aug 2025, Friday
Enquiries
For any enquiries, please contact Shreeyaa at [email protected]