10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

This map shows the distribution of the World’s bird species, based on overlying the breeding and wintering ranges of all known species. Indonesia (1615 / 1603). It makes me think what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything? Why am I here? And where all those birds are? Map by BirdLife International. The Oriental realm.

Sri Lanka 256

Sri Lanka Botswana Africa Serbia 256

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2012

They are feathered jewels with extraordinary breeding dances almost unrivalled in the bird world. Adding to their mystique is the remoteness of their home, the undeveloped and rarely visited islands of New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. There are few families of birds as bewitching as the birds-of-paradise.

Indonesia 180

Indonesia Guinea Australia Cooking 180

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

The Olive-flanked (or Yellow-flanked) Whistler ( Hylocitrea bonensis ) is endemic to to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, where it lives inconspicuously in montane forests. This unique bombycillid is much-sought by birders visiting the region, and our own Redgannet encountered a flock in Saudi Arabia a couple of winters ago.

Saudi Arabia 201

Saudi Arabia 2008 Indonesia Colombia 201

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

Borneo is the third largest island in the world; politically it is divided amongst three countries–Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan) and the sultanate of Brunei. Males and females are indicated by symbol, immature, juvenile, adult breeding, adult non-breeding indicated by abbreviations.

Brunei 170

Brunei Asia Birds China 170

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2024

A study on the breeding biology of Whitehead’s Broadbill was just published in May 2023 but leaves a bit of a puzzle as the breeding success is described as relatively high, meaning there should be other reasons for the population decline of the species. This is particularly acute in Indonesia ( source ).

Indonesia 206

Indonesia Birds Charlotte Breeding 206

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2023

Unfortunately, the Ashy Drongos did not exactly do what he predicted that they would do – mob potential predators more frequently during the breeding season and mob the more dangerous predator (in this case, the Black Eagle) more intensely. If you do not want to be put in a cage, it presumably helps to be a bit aggressive.

China 171

China 2017 Birds Indonesia 171

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2022

The falcon breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China but winters in Southern and East Africa. Apparently, soloensis stands for “Discovered in or native to the Solo River valley” (Wikipedia; the Solo river is a river in Indonesia). Still as impressed as before?

Falcons 224

Falcons Japan China South Africa 224

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

Another 170 are in captivity, many of them breeding stock for reintroduction efforts. Over the winter, the universe lost four whooping cranes to what appears to be recreational shooting: three gunned down together in Georgia on December 30, 2010, and another in Alabama on January 28, 2011. Sandhill Hunt: They’re Voting Now.Or

2011 236

2011 Hunting Kentucky Hunters 236

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2014

They have expanded their range through Indonesia and into Australia and is found in post breeding dispersal as far north as South Korea and Japan. The following decades continued the great expansion, and it was recorded breeding in Canada in 1962 and Chile by 1970. There are two main subspecies, the nominate B. coromandus.

Cattle 169

Cattle South Korea Suriname Seychelles 169

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2013

White-faced Herons are attractive medium sized herons, originally from Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, and New Caledonia. And now that you’ve been subjected to my hideous photos of non-breeding birds, here’s a shot of a breeding bird by a far more talented individual, Wikipedia’s Bejnamint444 ( GNU Free ).

New Zealand 147

New Zealand Indonesia Cattle Guinea 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2011

The Common Tailorbird , Orthotomus sutorius, is a small warbler whose range extends from India to southern China and down into Indonesia. The males have long central tail feathers in their breeding plumage which would be attained by early March in readiness for the season. Otherwise, sexes are alike.

Indonesia 150

Indonesia India China Bears 150

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2017

The Grey-headed Lapwing- Vanellus cinereus breeds in north-east China and Japan between April and June and then migrate to spend the winter in northern Southeast Asia from northeastern India to Cambodia and southern Japan.

Australia 101

Australia 2006 Japan Cambodia 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

2012 has certainly been a bumper year for me with an estimated year list of around 3,000 species after extensive travels to South Africa, Ethiopia, South Korea, Indonesia, the Russian Far East, United Kingdom, Peru, Guatemala and Panama. Secretive, silent and undetectable outside of its breeding season, found only in the U.S.

2012 140

2012 Guatemala Birds Florida 140

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

One study found that there seems to be some work sharing among the breeding adults – the male had a higher visitation rate of the nest while the female was the only one that brooded. Sadly, according to the HBW, this pitta is also frequently caught and sold in the cage bird trade in Indonesia despite having protected status.

Ghana 130

Ghana Malaysia Indonesia Singapore 130

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2023

Trying to breed the species in an aviary provided some disappointments, for example with regard to their nest-building abilities: “I don’t know what previous experience the birds had at nest construction, but their attempt was pretty pathetic” ( source ). I think I pointed out in previous posts that mammals are kind of evil.

Hamburgers 189

Hamburgers China Science Birds 189

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

The year 2016 was not a particularly birdy year for me, mostly because I didn’t get to go on business trips to Indonesia or Kazakhstan, as was frequently the case during the last few years. Lesser Spotted Eagles breed regularly with around 100 pairs in Germany, but unless you know where the territories are you are unlikely to see them.

2016 100

2016 Germany Italy Netherlands 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2023

While the conclusion seems fairly established now, the paper still puts it in the usual wordy and careful statement: “The shorter minimum stopover duration of both species in spring may indicate a faster migration than in autumn, suggesting a time-minimizing strategy in spring to reach the breeding grounds as fast as possible.”

Monkeys 147

Monkeys Birds South Korea Owls 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Hopefully, the winter time in Shanghai gives the Black-faced Buntings some time to relax from the challenges of the breeding season. One Japanese study found that it arrives at its breeding grounds earlier than in the past, most likely due to increased spring temperatures. No wonder no species are named after me.

Eggs 190

Eggs Birds Bangladesh China 190