Bird-watching in a Beautiful Garden: “Maison Mystique”

Diversity in nature not only creates ecological balance but is also considered a vital asset for tourism. "Birds," in particular, are small creatures that are one of the balancers of the ecosystem, helping to pollinate plants and control insect pests.

With the colors and charming appearances of various bird species attracting people to admire them, the activity of bird-watching, a form of ecotourism, is beginning to expand in many countries around the world.

In Thailand itself, there are many bird-watching areas that have gained popularity. Khao Yai is one of them. Besides its greenery and tranquility, the presence of over a hundred bird species is a key selling point that draws bird-watching groups to Khao Yai continuously, determined to spot both resident and migratory birds.

Those who have never gone bird-watching might not imagine how enjoyable it is. But for those who have entered the birding world, a simple glance is all it takes to understand. Whether it's walking in search of birds, seeing them, hearing their calls, or observing their behaviors, these are all sources of great pleasure. Importantly, focusing on bird-watching also allows us to disconnect from all the chaos that came before. And if you encounter a rare bird... your heart will beat faster, blood pumping, adding a new, unbelievable color to life.

But to enjoy bird-watching, we must first lay some basic groundwork, such as finding information about birds and birding locations, understanding the code of conduct for bird-watching, observing their shapes, and preparing the right equipment and attire.

Bird-watching at Maison Mystique, the Mysterious Castle in the Embrace of the Mountains

Maison Mystique, an elegant European-style accommodation hidden in the embrace of Khao Yai, is another place rich in various plant species, serving as an excellent habitat for birds, insects, and butterflies.

With this abundant natural capital, bird-watching has become another activity the hotel has prepared for its guests to get closer to nature, aligning with the concept of immersing in art and relaxing with nature in this realm.

To provide the staff with basic knowledge about birds, Khun Ban-Vibhavin Thadasih and Khun Fearn-Katechanok Cheravattana of Maison Mystique invited "Ajarn Suthee Suparatwikorn," a bird-watcher, philologist, and former president of the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, to be the instructor for their staff. At a minimum, they must be able to identify the birds in the area and their relationships with other living things, so they can tell the stories of nature in their own locality.

“We must understand nature. Nature is not just the environment along the roadside, not just scenery, sunrise, and sunset. Nature is composed of many parts: the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and the environment,” Ajarn Suthee began his lecture on birds by talking about the bigger picture of nature to create connections.

Because when we can connect, we will start to care, to be interested, until it becomes love, fostering the heart of a conservationist.

“You can look at nature like a scientist, or you can look at it like an artist. But for me, I see it in both ways simultaneously—in terms of science, how it came to be, and in terms of artistic beauty, which is unique every single day.”

Revealing the 8 Relationships: The Stories of Life in Nature

Although it is a bird-watching activity, what should be understood at the same time is the relationship of living things in nature so that we can see the full story. There are 8 types of these relationships:

1. Competition: For example, different species of birds that eat the same fish. If water sources are scarce, the bird that cannot compete must find another water source with no competitors. Some animals compete for habitat, such as hornbills, honey bees (Apis spp.), and giant squirrels (Ratufa affinis). All of them need hollows to live in; it depends on who can claim and protect it. Because in nature, every life must struggle to survive.

2. An indispensable relationship (Obligate Mutualism): For example, the mistletoe bird family, like the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, sustains its life by eating mistletoe fruit. When it excretes, it will flick its bottom to leave the droppings on a tree branch. When the mistletoe, a parasitic plant, grows, it sucks the nutrients from that host tree until it dies. Meanwhile, the bird gets to feed on the mistletoe fruit, a lifelong dependency. But nature always creates balance. There are mistletoe-eating butterfly larvae that lay eggs on mistletoe leaves. The caterpillars will then eat the mistletoe leaves, preventing the mistletoe from becoming too abundant and upsetting the natural balance.

3. A mutually beneficial relationship (Protocooperation/Mutualism): For example, the Cattle Egret and the buffalo. The egret helps remove insects that swarm the buffalo. When the buffalo walks, its steps cause grasshoppers to jump up, which the egret then gets to eat.

4. Commensalism (Relying on): For example, orchids and ferns that grow on trees. They are not parasites; they just cling to the tree. The orchids and ferns are the only ones who benefit, while the large tree gains no benefit, but also suffers no harm.

5. A one-sided benefit relationship: For example, the remora and the sea turtle. The remora benefits solely, while the turtle gains no benefit, but also suffers no harm.

6. Amensalism: This is a relationship where one party harms another (unintentionally). For example, a Banyan tree (Ficus) and a Golden Wattle. The Banyan tree is not a parasite, but it is quite formidable. When a bird drops its seeds, the Ficus will use the moisture to grow continuously, squeezing other trees until they weaken and die. Then, the Banyan tree will grow in its place.

7. Social Parasitism (Brood Parasitism): For example, the Plaintive Cuckoo, which is related to the Koel. It will lay its eggs in the nest of a Common Tailorbird, forcing the tailorbird to incubate the egg and raise its young.

8. Predator and Prey Relationship: For example, a kingfisher catching a snake. This type of relationship is very common, mostly involving hunting for food.

“When bird-watching, one should understand all dimensions of nature. What are the relationships? This is to understand the ecosystem. It's called 'interpreting nature.' It means that when you travel into nature, whatever you see, you must be able to explain it. For example, what tree is this? What flower? What is it related to? What kind of forest is it in? And what is Khao Yai forest like? That's because everything is interconnected,” Ajarn Suthee said.

Classifying the Appearance and Body Structure of Birds

“The important thing in bird-watching is that the anatomy must be clear so you can communicate correctly. Because birds are tiny, if you speak in generalities, you won't be able to distinguish the species, leading to misunderstanding.”

That anatomy includes everything from the forehead, crown, nape, hindneck, back, uppertail coverts, tail, throat, wing, breast, belly, legs, to the toes. A good bird-watcher should memorize these locations accurately.

“If you want to identify bird species, you must remember the shape. Is it plump or slender? Long-legged or short-legged? Is the beak longer than the head, equal to the head, or shorter than the head? The length of the beak. For example, a plover's beak is shorter than its head. But if it's a stint, the beak is about the same length as the head. If it's a dowitcher, the beak is longer than the head because it eats benthic animals. You have to remember this.”

Not only that, bird-watching is like embodying the spirit of a scientist. You must observe meticulously, including behavior, calls, and even how it walks—does it step one foot at a time or hop with both feet together? Because all of these can also indicate the bird species.

Building on Natural Capital to Add Value to the Hotel



In Ajarn Suthee's view, the Khao Yai area has a great deal of potential for ecotourism. It just depends on whether the resources are used effectively for tourism, because the important thing is to have knowledge that is not just superficial. Aiming for sustainable tourism requires deep understanding.

“If you just tell people the name of the bird, they will feel indifferent. But if you tell a story and make connections, it becomes much more interesting. We may not need to know everything, but we should know the things that are around our area. Most tourists are interested in things their country doesn't have. Therefore, we must understand this to develop the area into an ecotourism destination. For example, the butterflies here are not like the ones in their countries. This is a charm that adds value to the hotel, including the attentiveness of the hotel staff.”

The “Asian Palm Swift,” a Signature of Maison Mystique

From the bird survey conducted by Ajarn Suthee's team around August and September, it was found that there are about 20-plus species of birds in the area of this European-style castle, such as the Black-crested Bulbul, Olive-backed Sunbird, Green-billed Malkoha, Blue-throated Flycatcher, Pied Bushchat, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Common Iora, Plain-backed Sparrow, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Scaly-breasted Munia, Lineated Barbet, Greater Coucal, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Coppersmith Barbet, Rock Pigeon, and Red-wattled Lapwing, among others.

And not to be missed, the “Asian Palm Swift,” the welcoming bird that nests in the palm trees, flying acrobatically in front of the castle. Anyone who visits is sure to see them.

Khun Joom-Pakorn Kornlertvanich, a bird-watching leader from Bird Life Club, explained the interesting aspects of the Asian Palm Swifts at Maison Mystique, noting that in over 30 years of bird-watching, this was the first time she had ever seen an Asian Palm Swift's nest.

“Normally, the Asian Palm Swift must build its nest under the frond, which folds inward towards the trunk, making it impossible to see. But the palm trees here, I understand, have been hit by wind and rain until the fronds flipped, showing the inside. And here, there is a second-floor balcony. The swift's nest is right at eye level. So, anyone who comes here has a great opportunity to see it.”

The Asian Palm Swift is a bird that evolved alongside the palm tree. It nests on the palm tree, which is a commensal relationship; it benefits from the palm tree, which has a strategic advantage in terms of location. Predators cannot easily hunt the Asian Palm Swift.

The Asian Palm Swift's method of nest-building is to fly and catch cotton fluff or seed floss floating in the air, mixing it with its own saliva. The sticky quality of the saliva acts like glue to attach it to the palm frond. Then, it uses spider webs to help bind and strengthen the nest. The finished nest is oblong in shape. When it's time to lay eggs, it uses its saliva to stick the eggs to the nest.

“All four toes of the Asian Palm Swift point forward. When it is about to land, its behavior is to dive vertically and then turn its head up 90 degrees, using its toes to cling to the palm frond. In the evening, we have a chance to see them perching at the nest as well,” Khun Joom added.

In the opinion of a bird-watcher, Khun Joom sees that Khao Yai has very high potential for ecotourism, and this activity at Maison Mystique is like the first step for business establishments.

“If we target foreign customers, I think what interests them is what they don't have back home. When foreigners see a kingfisher, a hornbill, or a pied hornbill, they are wowed. Because their homes are not tropical rainforests or dry evergreen forests like ours. The flora and fauna are different. Therefore, if local people can convey this knowledge in English, at least be able to name the birds, it will attract their interest. It adds value, both in terms of the quality of the local people and their love for the environment, which is something foreigners will be very impressed with.”

Distributing a Bird Guide to Follow the Trail of Little Birds in the European-Style Garden

Under the strong concept of art and nature, bird-watching has become another activity that Maison Mystique is proud to present to its visitors.

Going back to the first day the Maison Mystique project was conceived, the activities the hosts roughly envisioned were: admiring the forest and gardens, watching birds, observing plant species, and creating a "kitchen garden" or edible garden. It was just that at the time, no one knew what species of plants, birds, and insects were in the area.

“Actually, Khao Yai is a place with a lot of animals, a lot of diversity. So here, we also want to spread knowledge about nature, such as birds, butterflies, and plant species. The original intention was to make a small booklet for customers to carry with them when walking in the garden, like a 'Garden Escape.' It would be distributed in every room. Anyone interested could follow the trail in the booklet. Parents who take their children for a walk in the garden would have a guide with them. It might just spark inspiration about nature in the children,” Khun Fern said, sharing the idea she wanted to present.

Therefore, inviting Ajarn Suthee this time was considered a starting point, providing basic knowledge to the staff. At least they would know what interesting things are in their immediate vicinity.

Khun Ban said, “We don't need to know every bird species in the country. But what birds do we have in our hotel? What plant species? What is our environment like? We must be able to tell these stories. So, we will have a 'bird corner' with equipment, such as binoculars, available for borrowing. The staff will be the ones teaching how to use them, and then guests can go walk and see for themselves.”

“Our activities will be like this: being with nature as much as possible. For some people, bird-watching is also a form of mental healing. This includes stargazing, too. This place has the advantage of an open sky. Sometimes, while sitting and eating, we can clearly see shooting stars many times. We are currently in the process of applying for registration as a Dark Sky Sanctuary as well,” Khun Ban said.

All things in nature are interconnected. If we learn and understand, it is not difficult to connect them into a bigger picture. And when that happens, a conservationist's heart will emerge, along with the awareness to help preserve nature, keeping the world livable for all life.

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