KUKILA

Diversity and relative abundance of hornbills in selectively-logged Production Forests in Central Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

2024-05-07T13:58:55+07:00

Opportunistic observations and rapid point count survey data was used in identifying the distribution of hornbill species in three production forests in the interior parts of Sarawak, namely Kapit Forest Management Unit (FMU), Raplex Forest Management Unit (FMU) and Pasin Forest Management Unit (FMU). This assessment was conducted to understand the occurrence and distribution of hornbills in production forest, which is lacking in order to develop an action plan for the conservation of Sarawak’s hornbill population. Records of hornbill observation were noted during forest operations and point count surveys. Point count survey was only conducted for a period of two days at each site. This assessment has provided information on the distribution of six species of hornbills from different coupes with different forest activity at the production forests. The only species that was not detected during this study was the wrinkled hornbills which require additional surveys to confirm its absence in this area. Species diversity was the highest at the future production forest (H’ = 1.16) followed by recently logged forest (H’ = 0.90) and active logging area (H’ = 0.64). The peak hour for hornbill detection appears to be between 0800 hours to 1000 hours in the morning. Production forest can provide resources to hornbills if the fruiting and nesting trees are made available. The occurrence of some of the hornbill species in a production forest complex suggest that these areas can potentially provide habitat to these species if they are managed sustainably. However, the long-term persistence of these species in such forest needs need to be further investigated and carefully interpreted to avoid misleading conclusion on the ability of disturbed forest to support these species of conservation importance.

Ecology of White-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis with reference to vocalisation in Meru Betiri National Park

2024-05-07T13:58:55+07:00

White-rumped woodpeckers (Meiglyptes tristis tristis) is endangered species with a lack of records and information in Java. In Meru Betiri National Park, several M. tristis records are very important to be studied in depth. This study aims to compile the M. tristis records in MBNP, vocalisation, and conduct ecological studies of vegetation preferences. There are 7 confirmed records in 2 different resort areas: six in Bandealit (west) and one in Sukamade (east). The combination of coconut plantations and semi-open land is the preference on the first record. The second record figures its presence in habitats very close to humans. Mangroves (Bruguierra sp.) are also used at third record for foraging. The fourth record at Bandealit occurred at the edge of a rubber plantation. Records 5 and 6 occur on the same spot that has a combination of a dense Albizia plantation and polyculture. Record 7 in Sukamade relates to rubber plantations and a polyculture. There are two calls with the first call consisting of 5 notes and the second call consists of two incomplete notes. It has a duration of silent intervals between calls of 6.32 S.

First description of the natal plumage of Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons atrifrons)

2024-05-07T13:58:55+07:00

The breeding biology of tropical birds, including those that inhabit the Indo-Pacific region, remain poorly known. Here, we present the first description of the natal plumage of Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons atrifrons) based on a single observation in Sulawesi, Indonesia. On 13 May 2022, we observed a fledgling Z. a. atrifrons clinging to the lower branches of a large pine tree (Pinus sp.) in partially logged secondary forest. Provisioning by presumed parental birds allowed us to identify the species. The whitish underparts and dark olive green back of the natal plumage is similar to the adult plumage of Z. atrifrons. We suspect the young bird had recently fledged due to its very short tail, partially emerged remiges, and complete dependence on the adults for food.

Corrections to the published elevational limits of 17 species from Bacan, North Maluku

2024-05-07T13:58:55+07:00

Wallacea is among the most under-studied regions of the tropics, with even basic biological data lacking from most bird species. Even by these standards, North Maluku has been historically neglected. A three-day visit to Buku Sibela on Bacan, North Maluku, in October 2022 yielded elevation extensions for 16 species, of which 11 are endemic to the North Moluccan subregion. In many instances, species are now known to occur at much higher elevations on Bacan than previously assumed, potentially reducing their extinction risk throughout the North Moluccas, where forest loss in the lowlands is substantially more rapid. Other visitors to, and researchers in, Indonesia are encouraged to record and publish altitudinal information where it is otherwise unavailable—these data are a critical component for mapping species’ ranges, monitoring habitat losses, and documenting possible temporal changes in elevation in response to climate change.