Experts say thorough investigations need to be done before fingers are pointed at the winged creatures as carriers of the H5N1 in the East Asian-Australasian flyway.

Wetlands International (WI) waterbird conservation officer David Li told theSun there is a need to understand the details of the situation, including the locations of the outbreak, their surroundings and whether there is interaction between the wild birds and domestic poultry.

"There is need for a detailed study to understand this situation rather than jump to conclusions without proof or better information.

"Outbreaks worldwide have shown some of the factors include bird trade, the trading of bird products like meat, eggs and feathers, merit release and cock-fighting, but in Malaysia, before blaming the water birds, there has to be a detailed study.

"If there is none, there may be wrong decisions or destruction or damage to our natural resources," Li said.

WI, like the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), is not denying completely that migratory birds may have a role in the spread of the disease but is stressing the need to monitor not just poultry but also water birds to have a better understanding of the wild birds.

Studies, he said, will enable better understanding of the migratory birds' routes and correct information must be presented to the public to alleviate fear.

"Up till now, there are no instances in which bird flu is transmitted to humans by wild birds, but there has to be a reduction in the potential ways of interaction between wild birds and domestic poultry.

"The birds should be caged in a certain area instead of being allowed to run free and, in transportation of poultry, there has to be strict monitoring," Li said.

There are three major types of migratory birds (egrets, shorebirds and seabirds) passing through Malaysia, stopping at unascertained spots on their 12,000km journey from and to lands in the northern hemisphere, where they breed.

Malaysia is sanctuary to birds from as far as Siberia

>> Kuala Gula (Perak): A conservation site set up by Wildlife and National Parks Department, this mangrove swamp fishing village is a migratory stop-over for tens of thousand of birds. About 48 species from as far away as Siberia, Mongolia and Russia can be found here. The birds rest and search for food before continuing their south-bound journey.

>> Matang Forest Reserve (Perak): Encompassing a 40,000ha, the forests have been described as the best managed mangrove forests in the world. Migratory birds like the Milky Stork, a protected species, are often spotted here.

>> Tanjung Tuan (Malacca): MNS holds its annual Raptor Watch on the first weekend of March near one of Malaysia's last remaining patches of coastal forest. Raptor migration takes place in autumn or October, when the birds leave their breeding grounds in East Asia -- Northern China, Japan, Korea and the Himalayas -- to escape the cold winter months by heading to Southeast Asia, crossing the sea at Tanjung Tuan to Indonesia. The spring raptor migration begins in mid-February and lasts till mid-April as they make the return journey. Among the main species migrating through this bird-watching hotspot are the Chinese Goshawk, Black Baza, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Grey-faced Buzzard and Japanese Sparrowhawk.

>> Fraser's Hill (Pahang): The hill station has over 270 species of local and migratory birds flocking to it. Take the Bishop's Trail to catch sight of the winged creatures that sometimes perch on 200-year-old trees. MNS also organises the annual International Bird Race, where people from around the world sight, identify and record the most birds, as stated in the official checklist.