Residents of Section 19, Petaling Jaya, stood transfixed. Were those really white egrets they are seeing before their very eyes?

The residents have been pleasantly surprised recently with the appearance of migratory birds in the area.

They are signs that the once heavily polluted Sungai Penchala running through their little neighbourhood is returning to life and the folk there are heartened that their tireless efforts to clean up the river are paying off.

Since last month, the white egrets escaping the winter in China have begun flocking to the neighbourhood.

These birds can usually be spotted along a 2km stretch from Sungai Penchala's source between 8am and 11am, and 5pm and 6pm daily.

The birds soar through the air, feed off the river, and nestle among the trees along the Damansara-Puchong Highway, next to the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery.

"It is a promising sight to

see these birds making an urban environment their temporary home during the winter months," said Global Environment Centre (GEC) programme officer Dr K. Kalithasan.

GEC had worked closely with the communities living along Sungai Penchala to rehabilitate the river, and the effort seems to be slowly overturning the ravages of the past.

"Egrets flocking to parts of Sungai Penchala may be one of the first signs that life is

returning to the river, as the

presence of the birds indicates an ample supply of fish and food. It is a good feeling and a boost for our river conservation efforts," said Kalithasan.

Section 19 residents are encouraged by these signs.

Three years ago, they teamed up with GEC and several other organisations to clean up the stretch of Sungai Penchala which runs through the neighbourhood Ð the very stretch the birds are flocking to, located about 2km downstream from the river source.

A total of 150 trees were

planted along the river and other areas in the neighbourhood as part of the project.

Hendry Ng, 48, who has lived in the area for 22 years, said this is the first time he has seen the egrets.

"I feel encouraged as our efforts at improving the biodiversity of the area are paying off," he said, adding that kingfishers and eagles can also be seen around the area.

Residents committee

chairman Tan Yew Leong, 46, shared the same sentiment and hopes the neighbourhood's

success in rehabilitating the river and its surroundings will inspire other neighbourhoods to do so the same.

"We are working closely with non-governmental organisations to educate children in our neighbourhood on river conservation, and on the types of birds they can now see all around them as a result of it.

"We are happy that the migratory birds find our environment tranquil enough for them to while away the winter months. We hope they return next year," said Tan.

The residents' efforts have also improved the quality of the river water at the stretch where it passes their neighbourhood from class five to three (five indicates the worst water quality and one the best).

GEC's compilations show about 70% of the pollutants in Sungai Penchala are household wastes, contrary to the assumption that industries are the main source of pollutants.

These are discharged via 108 drain outlets that empty into the river.

Other neighbourhoods involved in the programme are Bukit Kiara Long House and the Sungai Way, Kampung Medan-PKNS and Petaling Utama Rukun Tetangga sectors.

The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Friends of Bukit Kiara, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam, Friends of Taman Aman, National Council of Women's Organisations and the Malaysian Nature Society are among partners in this river conservation programme.