BIENVENUE: Bali Starling

"Illegal poaching for the cagebird trade"

Jalak Bali (Leucopsar rothschildi) is internationally known as Bali Myna or Bali Starling. This medium-large bird can only be found in Bali. Bali Starling was first discovered in 1910, and in 1991 it designated as the fauna symbol of Bali.

How are they look like?
I guess not all of you know how are Bali Starling looks like. Just for your information, in most of the source that I've read, they describe Bali Starling as the most beautiful of all mynas (birds of starling family). The average size is about 25cm. Its plumage is as white as the snow with an elegant long white crest. It also has this beautiful black touch at the tips of tail and the tips of flight feather. The beak, the legs, and the area around the eyes are bluish-grey with yellow bill. Generally, it's weighted around 85grams.

Bali Starling, as its name, is endemic to the island of Bali, Indonesia. To be exact, it lives in the tropical grassland and tropical dry forest.This beautiful bird is considered as an omnivore with the insectivore and fruits/seeds as its main food which can easily be found in its habitat.

Unfortunately, these birds are considered as a critically endengered animal. Talking about the population has a strong relation with the breeding. During breeding season, it is the males who attract the females by calling loudly and bobbing up and down. After the mating season, the females will lay around 3-4 torquoise eggs on the nest of twigs. Usually, the nest is located in the tree cavity. The eggs will hatch after around 14 days. The chicks fledge in about 3 weeks. Over all, Bali Starling may live for up to 15 years.

As we know, Bali Starling is critically endangered. It means that the total population of this bird is drastically decreasing. There are 2 remaining locations where these birds still able to live in the wild: The West Bali National Park and Bali's small island of Nusa Penida. There are some factors involve including habitat lost, natural disaster, and above all, trapping for pet trade; heartless isn't it?

Hopefully, this article helps you to know better about this beautiful talking-bird. Further more, I do hope that we can take the real action and let them survive..