Despite long-standing endeavours to salvage the critically endangered Bali Myna Leucopsar rothschildi from the hands of unscrupulous traders and status-conscious politicians, its numbers have dwindled in the past couple of decades to only a handful (see Birdlife International 2001).
Nusa Penida: A Safe Haven for the Bali Starling. The fabled mascot of Balinese fauna finds a new home
Below Dutch article is a rendering of Calon Arang, written May 2008, published autumn 2009. The ancient, manysplendoured story of Calon Arang is a classical Balinese representation of the battle of good and evil, between Rangda and Barong, witnessed in the form of a sacred street performance in Bali, autumn 2007. The author thought he was immune to a bit of Balinese magic. Little did he know... (English translation by the author, Dutch orginial below).
Range & population
The starling is endemic to the island of Bali, Indonesia, where it formerly ranged across the north-west third of the island. It has perhaps long been uncommon, but the population has declined drastically and contracted its range.
Godi Dijkman describes recent breeding and release developments of the Bali starling in 2014, in Nusa Penida and the West Bali National Park. Below article was published in BirdingASIA no. 22, December 2014, which only reached its readers second half of March 2015. The author wishes to thank both Bayu Wirayudha at Friends of the National Parks Foundation (www.fnpf.org) and Nana Rukmana at the West Bali National Park for their invaluable information. More information on FNPF conservation endeavours for the Starling can be found at: http://www.fnpf.org/what-we-do/nusa-penida-bali/wildlife/bali-starling-conservation-project. In addition, recent information on breeding projects of this beautiful Balinese bird by the Begawan Foundation (Sibang, Bali) may be found at: www.begawanfoundation.org/?idm=8.
text: Godi Dijkman | research: www.nusapenida.nl