The talking birds of the park

The Tiongs (Hill Myna bird) at their 'temporary home' against the December clouds
View from Sunset Point, Zone I

Grackle or Hill Myna
Gracula religiosa

Despite the dark clouds of December, the two Tiongs were seen together at their favourite perch playing and preening.  They knew I was a cimbing up the tall Licuala Hill, where their nest - a hole in the tree was located.  I imitated their calls loudly and they reacted by flying to and fro from the nest to a nearby tree in many rounds but always ending up at their nest.  They were playful today.    Over the years many pairs of Tiongs have shared the hole and I am indeed blessed to have them as temporary residents of the park.  This bird is one of the most sought after pet bird in Sarawak because it can be 'taught' to speak, sing melodious tunes or chuckle in hard rock style, thus the English name 'Grackle'. More pictures taken today....

Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa)
Location : Zone I

Two Tiongs in action

 The two Tiongs are happy with the nest.  It was just a few days ago that they claimed the tree their temporary home.  In my experience if they were to use the hole in the tree as 'nest', they would normally rent it for about a month's time.  Be as it may, they are most welcomed because it was approximately 6 months ago that a pair of the Tiong Mas (Malay) came to town and stayed there too.  Tiong Mas as the Malays call the Hill Myna bird has bright yellow bare skin patch below the eye.  There is another yellow skin patch just behind the eye across the nape to form a yellow band.  The legs and feet are yellow and the bill reddish orange with a yellow tip.  The entire body is black with unique white wing-patch on primaries.  I observed today the flapping sound of their wings in flight sounded like the muffled sound of a helicopter's propellers.  Tiongs are talkative birds and for that reason are trained as pets to mimic human language.

Note : All pictures above taken today, 26 June'14
Camera : Nikon D5100

Photoshoot session with the Tiong

Tiong seen from the distance, perching on a tall dead tree at Zone I

 Today has been exceptional.  It appears that the Tiong or Hill Myna bird  will come back again and again to occupy a 'nest' which is a hole in a tall dead tree at the park.  According to my record  they come to claim the nest every 6 months cycle.  The couple  I met today seemed very happy with the nest and it is my hope that for the next one month or so they will keep re-appearing on the scene for more photoshoot session.  The shots I managed to get today were taken from a distance of about 50 meters.  Guess I need to build a hideout closer to the tree to obtain better close-ups in future.  Here's for the start...

The Perlings are coming!

A flock of perlings attracted to a fruiting jungle tree at Botanic Island One

Philippines Glossy Starling
(Aplonis panayensis)

 Two days ago they send in the scout.  Yesterday a few birds were seen flying around the park.  Today a flock of these black birds came to town.  They were feeding tiny green fruits of a tall jungle tree at Botanic Island One.  Later in the day the flock concentrated on an Eugenia oleina tree that was full of tiny berry-like fruits.  They seemed to have a liking to these black fruits and were not bothered to share the tree with the bulbuls and flowerpeckers.  Once they found a fruiting tree they would come back again and hopefully I can take more pictures of them tomorrow.

An adult perling has glossy dark bluish black body and characteristic bright red iris.
This perling is resting on the Eugenia oleina branch.

Long shot views of the Tiong

View of the tree which the Tiongs have called home ....a solitary tall dead tree

View of the tree which the Tiongs have called home ...seen are the Tiongs

Zooming in the nesting hollow...

Tiong (Hill Myna)  perching on a nearby tree...

Tiong at the nest....

A Tiong country

The Kambatik nature park as a Tiong country...

 The park is a Tiong country.  Developed from a lowland tropical rainforest, the tallest trees that are scattered throughout the park are natural hideouts and perches for these medium-sized birds.  Their favourite home is a tall dead tree located at Zone I, nearby the Licuala trail.   From this tall solitary tree they scout the surrounding countryside and embark on medium-haul flights with their strong wings into the  secondary forests and fruit tree gardens.  They make numerous return trips throughout the day gathering fruits,berries and insects.  There is a hole in the tree they found comfortable enough to become their nest.  Today,  I ventured again to the hill because their calls and whistles brings out the itch and urge in me to be closer to them and to have another photoshoot session with them.  Here are some images taken this morning.

Note the white wing-patch on the primary wings..

Beak is stocky, dark orange and light yellow at its terminal end.

Feet are yellow and clawed. Whole body plumage is  black.

Tiong birds are good at mimicking sounds and so are sometimes to referred as Grackle.

The white wing-patch is clearly seen in flight...

The tree the Tiongs call home, where they found a comfortable nest in the tree-hollow...

Birdwatch album - Philippine Glossy Starling

Philippine Glossy Starling
(Aplonis panayensis)

The Perlings would visit the park when the jungle trees bear fruits or the ornamental Eugenia oleina trees black berries are produced after every flowering season.  They come in big flocks for days on end but they don't settle or make their homes here. The adults are all black with a green gloss and a conspicuous red iris.  Juvenile or immature birds are whitish below and streaked with black.  When they roost on the dead tree branches they produce loud chatter and will fly off simultaneously if provoked or are alerted.

A juvenile or immature bird have slightly whitish and streaked with black on their breast and body below.
This bird is eating the ripe fruits of the Eugenia oleina trees that are purposely planted throughout the park to attract many forms of wildlife.

Starlings or Perlings as they are generally called are social birds, flocking together and roosting in large numbers.

Birds of a feather flock together.