“Join me from your armchair and let me take you on a journey behind the Wallacea Line – an imaginary line named after renowned naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace that zoographically forms the biological boundary within which Sulawesi, the Moluccas and the Lesser Sundas huddle within the Republic of Indonesia - to search, explore specifically 10 species of Kingfishers found recorded in just one Nature Park in Sulawesi alone.

“My first journey - this year to the world’s largest Malay Archipelago - began having to take on two red-iron birds, two bone-shaking Sulawesi mod-to-mini buses and finally on the back of a fish pick-up truck; to arrive at the volcanic forested reserv e- Tangkoko National Park, straddled on a 8,800ha reserve on the northern tip of the octopus shaped island of Sulawesi (formally Celebes) (below left).

“Here, 10 species of Kingfishers have been recorded. Seven endemic Kingfisher species alone inhabit Tangkoko National Park forests making it a Mecca for birders and photographers.

“On my second trip in that same final lap of winding, narrow roads through deep forests, Minahasian ojeks or motor cycle taxis took over. I sat as pillion rider on one, while my luggage divorced me and eloped shamelessly in haste ahead with Ojek 2.

“It was an unforgettable ride not to be repeated. I witnessed an onward coming rider being shaved off the downward winding road by another oncoming road runner, mikrolet - open-backed jeep that locals commute cheaply in. The incident left the exasperated female rider sat fallen and swearing at the jeep driver. It sounded no where compared to the sweet manja (titillating) calls of any feathered or unfeathered bird calls known to man!

“Putting incident aside, let’s join Avian Writer for a bird walk through treacherous gegone infested floor of Tangkoko National Park. Be with probably the first lady bird-Digiscopist to photograph wild birds in digiscopy techniques and doing it solo therein.

“Admire those gorgeous, giant buttress roots of century old trees, a rare sight to behold in these Archipelago tropical rain forests of the 21st century (above centre).

“Get off the trails and stealthily walk into semi-darkness under tree canopies, into high humidity areas of ‘Ala Tangkoko Sauna Bath’ the natural way (above right).

“Take care to avoid species of spiky and hairy giant palm groves that not only cause abrasive skin injuries but clothes to tear. Avoid too, tree vines that strangulate photographic equipments and palm foliage above and at body level that are transporters of small black ants, whose itch is worse than the bite. You will begin to wonder why you never checked your beddings before exhaustion from kilometers of walks knocked the daylights out of you.

“Feel drops of sweat rained down your face continuously, shirt drenched in sweat and attracting a host of annoying, depraved female mosquitoes that decided to sing and sting on any exposed flesh that anti- mosquito repellants missed.

“As your eyes scanned for perched or movable objects in trees and on the tropical rain forest floor, the chances are …….

“This is where… one finds the gem of rare and endemic birds.

“Your lens spectacles would have by then misted up and hastily proceeded to wipe off sweat and all. If the bird had stayed long enough to be admired through binocular vision 8×42, and opportunity of time to execute some perspiring digiscopic shots without distressing the bird, such would be considered beautiful moments and an extra bonus if decent images could be had that will be of credible worth.

“By then, one would be breathless from the suffocating high humidity habitat within and ecstatically bewildered, having had a lucky encounter and having seen a new bird species away from home. A twitcher will call it a lifer.

“Two endemic species of wood Kingfishers that is high on birders’ wish list live here in this lowland tropical rainforest.

“The above-left image shows a female Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher (Cittura cyanotis) with blackish eye-stripe and wing –coverts. The male is feathered deep blue.

“Considering its size of about 28cm and with plumage of olive-brown uppers, buffy-lilac eyebrow, cheeks and breast and a chestnut tail, it is not an easy bird to spot when perched quietly in mid-storey.

“For, its plumage camouflages well thus posing much challenge especially under limited lighting conditions and habitat obscurity to execute bird digiscopy in full decent views.

“The Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher (Cittura cyanotis) being extremely inconspicuous and not often heard is known to predate on arthropods and small reptiles as mentioned in field guides.

“The above-right image shows what looks like a seed in the beak of a female. A new food record…..?

“What made me love to pursue these creatures in an unrelenting way was that they seemed to have the magic of appearing out of nowhere, only to startle me suddenly with a blue-headed face staring, five feet perch away like this male Green-Backed Kingfisher (Actenoides monachus) (above).

“I and the bird could hear my heartbeat pounding in my head!

“I am simply no match for a ‘Hide & Seek’ game with these endemic specialists of camouflage. I had to retreat my steps to no less than fifteen feet from the bird to be able to focus with my Digiscope and prayed hard the 32cm bird to stay put and I, not fail to deliver.

“‘Please….please….’

“At most times, it would be Greeny sending me on a trivial pursuit into obscurity or simply gave a pathetic, menacing stare at this green dressed Homo sapien for having a total of seven movable and immovable lens yet remained so visually impaired.

“However, I was not much alone in this Sulawesian forest as three pairs of nocturnal ‘ET’ eyes were watching me closely. At three inch body size, the Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) whose ping-pong eyes inspired Steven Spielberg’s 1982 movie ET: Extra Terrestrial is the smallest in the world of the Eastern Region nocturnal primate species and much besotted by tourists (left).

“Apart from sighting a seemingly active nesting hole of a wood Kingfisher species, there were no nesting activities encountered. It was also not my priority to be looking out for them as a short term visitor. An incomplete nesting cycle observation is of no scientific value. I would prefer parents carry on the business of nurturing their young with less prying eyes Sightings of the Collared Kingfisher (Halcyon chloris), Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (below left), Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) and the light-blue rumped teasing flash flight of the Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) (below right) down streams were regular sightings of a Kingfisher birding day.

“A boat ride to the mangrove edges, sluggish rivers and swamps beyond added views of a shy, early, southern winter visitor from Australia- the Sacred Kingfisher (Halcyon sancta).

“The ultimate boat trip was to seek out the sparsely populated and elusive Great–billed Kingfisher. (Halcyon melanorhyncha).

“It wasn’t long before a kookaburra sized bird of 37cm flew alongside me. Like a stealth bomber, it provided a magnificent, graceful fly pass in full bodied, creamy white appearance, blackish wings and a huge, chunky, and black beak unmistakable of a Kingfisher.

“I was too stunned sitting in the boat with the boatman as I pointed the bird out to my bird guide Fan who sat front and saw not (right).

“‘Is this the guy? Oh……blimey!’

“Two more endemic species- the lowland Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx fallax) and the uncommon submontane Scaly-breasted Kingfisher (Actenoides princeps) continue to elude me.

“Join me again in the next article to view more endemic bird images of Tangkoko National Park, sharing its space with other fauna and wonder why the island of Sulawesi behind the Wallacea Line is such a source of wealth of spectacular and varied avian species not seen elsewhere.
How long will they last?

“Is pristine Tangkoko Nature Park ripe for ecotourism plucking?”

AVIAN WRITER DAISY O’NEILL PENANG MALAYSIA
© In Search of Kings…Behind the Wallacea Line
Photographic equipments used: Field scope ED82+ 30x + Cooplix P4
Bird Mission Sponsored by: Daisy O’Neill Bird Conservation Fund Pte.

By tradition, kingfishers are placed in a huge single family, pronged by three sub-families belonging to the Halcyonidae (Wood Kingfishers), Alcedinidae (Small Kingfishers) and Cerylidae (Pied & Green Kingfishers). Let’s take a look at one of the Wood Kingfishers- Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) found perched in stoic pose with a large crab wedged in by a dagger like, oversized red beak in a forested mangrove river edge (below left).

Let’s hide behind a tree trunk and observe through a 82mm diameter digiscope, observe how this colourful, feathered, plump bodied bird coped with such a huge catch; at close range, admire its dark, brown eyes stud in an oversized head and short, bright red legs gripping a horizontal branch with its 3 joined, forwarded toes for counter balance.

Ruddy Kingfishers are strongly territorial and their diet is known to consist of worms, insects, small lizards including crustacean, small mammals and even young birds.

Admire too, Ruddy’s plumage of rufous undercarriage, overshadowed by violet-magenta uppers setting this species contrastingly apart from other species. In flight, it coyly flashes a light blue feathered rump like a marathon lighted torch on a flying sprinter, chasing after its own repeated loud, staccato, shrill noted calls of the bird (above right).

This extremely shy bird sensed my presence and refused to concede to relish the crustacean. And so, a waiting game began where it continued to perch motionless with crab in beak.

I remained hunched over my digiscope and waited for some action from the bird.

As time ticked by, my head began screaming to levitate away from my neck that died stiff of the waiting game. I surrendered.

Ruddy finally relented when thought I wasn’t looking and began the process of dismembering the remaining foot of the equally screaming crustacean.

‘Ouch!! ..do you mind? What do you think you are dooooing?

Ruddy playing selective deafness, repeatedly whacked the crab on the tree branch, leaving a tenderized body and a pair of black unforgiving eyes star-gazing into the menacing eyeballs of Ruddy that repeatedly said, “I gonna eat ya!, I gonna eat ya!”

This was followed by vigorous tossing and repositioning of the crab in its beak for best swallowing position before Ruddy Kingfisher took the crustacean whole, chased down by one mighty gulp into the bird’s belly. Attach blurry action images too fast for my camera to handle and shows Ruddy’s bulging belly (above).

Ruddy was seen on earlier visits with a mate. Otherwise, sighting of this quality species would be uncommon and when encountered, would usually be seen quietly perched and alone.

It was my first encounter with a raucous, breeding pair that appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the freedom of romance play-flying, ‘catch me if you can’ through the mangrove forested river edge.

Join me next in the red-iron bird to venture beyond shores, see through Avian Writer’s eyes, be transported in spirit, be entertained and be fascinated by other unusual species of endemic Kingfishers and the wild.

Let’s do that…. before they all disappear in the wilderness of concrete jungles.

AVIAN WRITER DAISY O’NEILL PENANG MALAYSIA
© Ruddy Kingfisher Eats One-legged Crab

There is no other better way to launch the second phase of writing for BESG than by contributing the 61st article signature bird family - ‘Pittidae’ for readers to enjoy a comparison in bird digiscopic photography.

With only five species represented in Peninsular Malaysia, each with low count population, fewer still their known habitats, these colourful, ground dwelling creatures are much besotted by birders and photographers for looks and keep sake.

Let’s zoom in on two species that look quite alike at first glance and try making a comparison to distinguish genetic differences in their appearance.

Let’s see if these elusive birds can stump birders and B-photographers who think they know the Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) and its cousin- Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) well.

In doing so, let’s hope to learn and appreciate their scarcity, value their species’ presence, conserve their habitats in our tropical rainforests and give them the space and all opportunities to breed without unnecessary human interference and stress.

Let the Blue-winged Pitta be called Mo and the Mangrove Pitta, Mighty. By pairing Mo and Mighty, let us begin with Plate 1 (below left) and 2 (below right) to compare their rear views. (All odd Plate numbers are Mo, all even Plate numbers are Mighty).

Mo wears a light brown cap shaped like rugby ball drawn with a medial long, black stripe. Mighty’s cap is a bit wider and tainted with haphazardly splashed, faint and blackish patches. (The latter may be absent in other birds of same species.)

Both wear black eye-bands. Mo’s eyes band is thick and remains circumventing to behind the neck or nape as it is called; whereas the rear band of Mighty appears much narrower at the nape. Plate 3 (below left) and 4 (below right) show the front view.

Notice that Mo’s beak is bulky and bulging on the upper mandible and the length is about at most, two-third’s the horizontal to the length of its head (from gape to nape).

How about Mighty? His plumage conveys his gender and seems to be carrying nesting material steadily with a slimmer, longer beak the full length close to same as the head.

The black eye-band of Mo rides high over the upper eyelids whereas Mighty’s demarcation line of its eye-band is limited to the edge of the upper eyelids bordered by a faint, whitish eye brow or supercillium.

Let’s take a look at their bellies. Mo’s appear to be more conspicuous with a larger area of red plumage beginning from the vent (area of under body behind feet of the bird), spreading passed between the legs and over the belly and ending about midway between throat and vent of the bird. The extent of Mighty’s red belly appears to be much lower.

Plate 5 (below left) and 6 (below right) show the side view.

The prima facie of Mo has to be the blue wings for which the bird is named. The anatomical details of feathered wing parts are well represented here. In perched position the black primary margins with white wing bar is seen. Sometimes, they are partially hidden pending the way the bird folds its wings.

Images of the Mangrove Pittas’ shown here in perched or stand position show no marginal black, primaries with white wing bar. The white- winged patches are present but smaller and are concealed. Only in minority of exceptional images or reasons whatsoever are they partially seen or not seen.

Through the good office of Bruce Ramsay’s research on all available images found in websites, only two exceptional images showed white wing bar on perched/stand position.

Field researchers and ornithologists’ who handle birds would be able to document in more detail, the exact number of primary feathers splashed with white.

The above observations are noted based on the respective images taken in the field with some pointers not mentioned in various bird field guides.

Plate 7 (left) is posted raw in its original form with no photo -shopping done. It is a sample to show that images of birds in photography, when enhanced by photo-shopping skills and in the hands of expert make- up artists do bring the best out of the birds, hopefully to be as natural as possible and to show finer aspects of birds’ plumages and anatomical details not easily seen in the field.

It is not difficult to confirm that lighting plays tricks on photography. Therefore, I have not deliberated on the differences in plumage colours of the pittas- they may be misleading or inaccurate.

Hues of feathers change under different lighting conditions and under different angle of light rays. Colours will appear toned down under dark conditions and tinted up under bright conditions respectively. Iridescence is lost in dark or bad lighting situations where light rays cannot penetrate or hit at the right angle. Dark blue, or brown tones appears black and in bright light, tints of colour white, cream, light yellow, buff, beige are simply glaringly white and misleading.

Added with advancement in computer technology, it is possible with a click of a mouse, to transform colours of bird images to one’s fancy.

In the hands of a sorcerer’s apprentice it is possible to paint a red pol-ka dot pitta and much more!

A bird specialist with a discerning eye who knows his/her pittas well will be looking out for more markers for another comparison or two not mentioned.

Only one picture plate gives it away and Mo would like to pick the brains of the uninitiated….

The clue…..?

Ask Wriggly!

AVIAN WRITER DAISY O’NEILL PENANG MALAYSIA
© BLUE-WINGED PITTA VS MANGROVE PITTA

A pair of House Crows (Corvus splendens) was observed in a residential area perched on a television antenna. One was black and the other was a light brown colour- and that was something odd (below left).

Let’s listen in.

“Ma, why am I so different?”

“Did I fall into a bucket of bleach?” asked the juvenile crow in sepia.

“No…, you did not and I don’t know why you were born like this, dear. And that makes you even more special!” replied the black House Crow as she proceeded to preen her chick tenderly.

Feather shafts of birds sink into the skin organ to receive the necessary nourishment for growth and endowment of birds’ plumages. Colours of feathers are determined by the genetic make up and quantity distribution of pigmentation cells present in the skin.

Leucism in birds is a genetic disorder whereby the pigmentation cells are unevenly distributed, hence resulting in patches of feathers looking paler, bleached looking or show white. (While Albinism dictates that the skin body is totally devoid of pigmentation cell. Hence, if one looks into the iris of an albino, it always shows reddish-pink or near equivalent.)

The image (above right) shows an adult leucistic House Crow. Note especially the uneven discolouration of the beak, white naped patch and wings and dark eyes to compare with a flock of normal House Crows (below left).

It was also observed that the leucistic House Crow was treated as an out-caste and chased off by other crows while the former was scavenging and ate lunch (above right).

It is not a common phenomenon and science has yet to figure out why leucism occurs. Perhaps… it is one of those things that Mother Nature, the divine architect sees fit – to be allowed to mastermind mistakes now and then!

And which ascertain that in our world, nothing and nobody is perfect… and we be allowed to do so sometimes too.

Three sightings of leucistic House Crows were made in 2008 at the same location.

AVIAN WRITER DAISY O’NEILL PENANG MALAYSIA
© LEUCISM IN CROWS

Documentary details are available from the 8 Part series, ‘Of Coppersmith Barbets’……….

Location: Excavated dead branch of an old, Yellow Sentol tree (Sandoricum koetjape), approximately 20 feet above ground, alongside river bank in residential housing, Mainland Penang, Malaysia.

Date and Weather conditions: 20 January - 20th March 2009 - a prolonged period of dry spell broken 2nd week in March by intermittent showers of rain.

Optics used in observation and digiscopic-photography: Binoculars10×42, Fieldscope ED82+30x magnification + Digital camera Coolpix P3 and P4.

Above left: BLOWFISH (Male); above right: GOGGLE-EYE (Female)

Chronology of Events:
20th January- A pair of Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima Haemacephala) observed excavating nesting site.
23rdJanuary- Incubation began in partnership earnest.
7th February- Hatching. A pair of nestlings observed peeping from nesting cavity.
8th.February- Initial chick feeding observed.
20th March- Only one chick fledged.

Above left: NESTLING; above right: FLEDGLING

Summary: Documentation with support of photographic images by digiscopy can now confirm, incubation period of Coppersmith Barbets (Megalaima haemacephala) to be 14 days (2 weeks).

Period from hatching of chick to fledging to be- 40 days for this clutch.

This is a new photographed record by digiscopy.

AVIAN WRITER DAISY O’NEILL PENANG MALAYIA
© Of Breeding Coppersmith Barbets – A Chronological Summary. Part 9)