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Bali Mynah


Bali Mynah
Photo Information
Copyright: MY Wong (Seabird) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 0 N: 359] (1387)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-29 0:36
Viewed: 6732
Points: 31
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dear all,

This is another photo of Bali Mynah taken during my first bird-insect-plant trip earlier this month.


It was taken in the Edward Youde Aviary of Hong Kong Park, where an elevated walkway allows visitors to walk through the tree canopy and get really close to the birds.

I am not sure if this bird is male or female. But it looks like a handsome gentleman in a tuxedo. : )

I look forward to your comments and pointers for improvement. many thanks!

Chrs,
Man Yee

from http://www.mynahbird.org/species/bali/bali.html

Bali is an Indonesian island located on the western most part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east.

The Bali Mynah is distributed and endemic to the island of Bali, where it is the island's only surviving endemic species. This rare bird was discovered in 1910 and is one of the world's most critically endangered birds. In fact, it has been hovering immediately above extinction in the wild for several years now (BirdLife International 2006).

The last stronghold of the species is at Bali Barat National Park; about 1,000 individuals are believed to be held in captivity legally. In fact, the Bali Starling is so much in danger that that national park has been set up just for the Bali Starling's survival. The wild population was at an all-time low of just 6 birds in 2001, after the late-1990s wild population of 3-4 dozen was reduced by poachers for the illegal pet trade.

There is at least one well-funded armed gang with access to bomb-making equipment and possibly inside information that raided the local breeding and release facilities in the early 2000s. In the attack the group maliciously shot and killed eighty-five workers. Only one gang member was felled by local authorities while the remaining suspects safely escaped. Continuing releases raised the number of wild birds to 24 by March, 2005.

The Bali Starling is listed in Appendix I of CITES. Trade even in captive-bred specimens is strictly regulated and the species is not generally available legally to private individuals. However, experienced aviculturalists may become affiliated with the captive-breeding program, allowing them to legally keep this species.

Male and female Bali mynahs look alike, having beautiful white feathers, black tipped wings and tails, and a bright powder blue crescent of skin around the eyes. Their heads are topped off by a lacy white crest of feathers. They are about the size of cardinals.

Poaching and timber harvesting are among the greatest threat to the survival of the Bali mynah in the wild. Conservation initiatives enacted over the past two decades to have been ineffective in increasing this species numbers in the wild.
PaulH, eqshannon, jusninasirun, techranger, Juyona, uleko, manyee, jlynx, ubc64 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2008-08-29 4:31]

Hi My,
what a great looking bird you found! Very nice composition and POV, the only minor thing is that the bright patch of sky is a little distracting against the white of the Bali Mynah...but that's not really a problem :o)
Great job and very good notes too, well done!
Paul

Bali...wow..hi! One of my fav's ah well..question..Hong Kong was just handed back a few years ago...and you worked for AP for a bit...I use AP quite often...Tampa Bay...is this bird related? trying to stay on tack...anyway...HK is more of the money center...right? I am lost in a political world growing ever so close and small due to electronics..
Bob

  • Good 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2008-08-29 7:16]

hi man yee,
the bird is beautiful but not the image. the bird is not focused (may be movement of your camera) and that big white patch is not helping anyway. tfs.
nagraj.v

Hello Man Yee. White bird is the hardest to capture and so are white flowers. You have made excellent focus where it matters, the head. I like the detail around the head of this beauty. Well perched and good framing. Well done. Jusni

Hi , excellent capture , very right exposure for whites ,TFS and good luck .

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2008-08-29 9:19]

Hi MY,how is strange this bird!Never seen like that,my best compliments for the excellent quality of your pic and for the perfect point of view,have a nice day,Luciano

Merhaba Man Yee;
Çok çok güzel bir kuş.Mavi göz çevresine sahip bir kuşu ilk defa görüyorum.Kadraj ve renkler çok iyi.Keşke sağ alt köşede sahne çalma olmasaydı,dahada etkili bir kare olurdu.Ellerine sağlık,selamlar :)

Great notes and I love the bird's "hairdo" :)

Larry

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2008-08-30 10:29]

Hola amiga,
hermosa captura y perfecto poco y pov,
suave plumaje y bg...
saludos MY

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-08-31 11:38]

Hello Man Yee,
This is such a wonderful bird and you've captured it here from a very nice angle showing the lovely feathers on its head and with great focus on the blue eye. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2008-08-31 21:44]

Hello Man Yee,
A friend of mine told me that there is another Man Yee on TN. I could not believe it, since I have never come across anyone with the same name as me in my whole life. But here you are (though our Chinese names are probably different)!
I have been to Hong Kong Park and seen these Bali Mynahs at the aviary, and I have just returned from Bali, where I have also seen these beautiful birds at their bird park. I was aware of how rare and endangered they are, and tried to take some pictures, but was not successful. I am glad you got such a good shot.
With the lighting and the cages and the white plumage, I know it is not easy.
You managed to catch this beauty in a good pose, with good eye contact. The exposure is excellent, and the details are fine, especially around that gorgeous blue eye.
Thanks for sharing,
ManYee

Very nice composition. excellent capture , very right exposure for whites.

  • Great 
  • jlynx Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 87 W: 7 N: 46] (455)
  • [2008-09-02 1:40]

Hello Man Yee,
Beautifully bristled little bird in very good picture. The picture splendidly partite and composed into the nice manner. Very nicely fuzzy background well exhibits the main hero of this photo. The photo very nice for the eye, well finished up. Splendid souvenir from the surely thrilling travel.
Best regards from Poznan,
Jurek

Splendid capture.

  • Great 
  • ubc64 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 76 W: 21 N: 208] (789)
  • [2008-09-13 13:09]

Hi Man Yee,

What a fine image of the Bali Mynah! Recently, I went to the Bronx Zoo in New York City, and visited their aviary. I know how difficult it can be to get the lighting just right on your selected bird. You've done a great job! There are some extraneous light areas, but that's what you were given, and you couldn't do much about it. TFS.

John

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2008-09-18 0:51]

lovely!
very beautiful bird! i have seen it in my trip to Stuttgart zoo! i will post soon for sure one pair of those beautiful birds.

tfs

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