Yonok Wetlands

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Dowroong Damlamajak is a highly skilled Thai birder and has an amazing eye for finding interesting and rare species. She also knows the trees and plants, as well as snakes and mammals. She is a committed Buddhist and although she has not taken any written vows she is regarded by Monks that have met and talked with her at length to have attained a very high order in the Buddhist Religion.

We were very pleased when her daughter Borin graduated from Surin University and was given her diploma by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Regarded as a black sheep in her village as she held strong the 5 choices of Buddha, this has helped her greatly in the adversities of life.

Dowroong was a volunteer soldier at the age of 15, she spent a year jungle training, and is a crack shot, 9 bulls out of 10 in completion, the M16 she learnt to fire was almost as big as herself. However she has never shot at any living creature, bird or animal.

Her skill with fire arms was dispensed with at the age of 16, we have no need for guns. In our three years in Kui Buri, we were never in fear of Wild Animals, often we encountered Elephant, Leopard and occasionally Bear, a bit worrying at times, but I believe animals can smell bad people and so we had no cause for alarm. If you leave wild creatures to go about they're daily lives undisturbed by your presence, they are unlikely to harm you.

For myself; if I see a group of birds or animals I will do my best not to disturb them, if I can find a route around I will take it. Mick.

Mick Davies has been a birder for more than forty years and has spent many years traveling alone in the jungles of Asia and has seen most of the Larger Animals, without serious incident. Mick is a full time birder and has contributed a vast amount of records of bird migration and breeding, both in Thailand and England as well as other parts of the World. During Mick's career as a birder, he has been involved in all aspects of ornithology.

High Abbot Khru Ba Boun Chum: explained that he was visited in a dream and was compelled to create a New Temple in Yonok, this is now Wat Viang Cum. As luck would have it Khru Ba Boun Chum has entrusted this New temple to Pra Ajan Sane. The Idea of empowering the Buddhist Monks with the care of the Yonok has worked better than I could have expected. We have been lucky in gaining the friendship and respect of Pra Ajan Sane, whom was previously involved in conserving nature, and long before we met with him. So it was easy for us to explain our ideas and objectives for the future of Yonok.

Pra Ajan Sane who is now Abbot of the New Temple, Wat Viang Cum: He is constructing what he describes as a meditation and bird watching place of peace. This small building is now situated in the center of the Lily lake and can be easily visited by raft. Just contact Pra Ajan Sane in the adjacent Temple of Wat Viang Cum. Pra Ajan Sane has taken positive steps in the banning of hunters in the Yonok and has ordered them to leave. With complete success, he also said that the local fishermen are very aware of Mick Davies regular visits and they wish to be seen to be helpful in protecting the birds of Yonok.

Dowroong and I have been together now for more than 5 years. We spent a year traveling most of the perimeter of Thailand as well as a number if interior wild Life sanctuary's and National parks. Our means of transport was a small Honda 125 motorbike and we carried all our camping equipment strapped on a bamboo frame.

We eventually settled at Yang chum Lake (kui Buri NP) the southern extent ion of Kaeng Krachan. We purchased a small Island peninsula and built our home there on the Island . A birders paradise! The local jungle areas are some of the most beautiful and peaceful in Thailand . Rarely do we see any humans on our jungle expeditions.

Although Thailand 's birds and animals have suffered greatly at hands of human persecution, Kui Buri NP still has a wealth of wildlife. We regularly encounter elephants, occasionally Bear and Leopard and it's possible that Tiger still survives in the area. There are approx 40 species of larger mammals represent in the park.

Birds. 340 species have been found by us and I would estimate that another 40 could be found with some serious effort. The bird list includes Khao Sam Roi Yot which is some 25 Klm east of us. Migration can be very impressive, in particular raptors with many thousands passing in late October.

Unfortunately paradise was short lived and after 3 years we were forced out as the water rose one meter in our home during the night. Not the most pleasant experience floating around in the dark on a listing bed propped with polystyrene blocks.

In early November 2005 we took the decision to get out and have a re think so we headed north. We toured for a couple of months and eventually ended up at Chiang Sean. Where we first met.

Chiang Sean lake and the Mekong are well known as birding areas, but we have made some highly interesting discoveries here.