Blog & Photo Archive
Birding is about finding beauty in the everyday birds; the thrill and passion comes from the backyard species as much as it does the once-in-a-lifetime bird, as does the responsibility to protect them.
These entries are vignettes, lessons, personal reflections, and conservation efforts.
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July 14, 2024
Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher
The first time I saw a Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher wasn’t in the wild, but in UC Berkeley’s Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. I remember being immediately struck by the bird’s diminutive size—no more than 22 grams—despite having a diet consisting mainly of frogs. I was fascinated to learn about its hunting strategy: patiently perching low in the undergrowth, scanning for movement, then plunging into the water after prey. After catching its meal, the kingfisher returns to a perch and forcefully strikes the victim against a twig, making it easier to digest.
When my mother told me she was planning a trip to Madagascar the following summer, I was thrilled—this was my chance to finally see the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher alive in its native habitat.
Upon arriving in central Madagascar, I met my local guide and eagerly told him I was a birder with a special interest in spotting this kingfisher. That very night, we arranged a hike to look for nocturnal wildlife. Within the first hour, we had already encountered a tenrec, tree frogs, chameleons, a mouse lemur, and silky sifakas. Despite the exhaustion from jet lag, my guide encouraged me to keep going.
Eventually, we paused along the trail. My guide quietly motioned upward and shone his flashlight into the canopy. There, perched on a slender twig, was a Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher—fast asleep. I could hardly believe it: one of the species at the very top of my birding bucket list, right in front of me, puffed up like a tiny ball and peacefully resting.
The guide explained that this individual roosts on the same twig each night. I was elated to finally see this kingfisher in the wild. As the bird stirred under the light, it slowly unfluffed its feathers, revealing its vivid plumage and alert posture. Seeing it fully awake—even briefly—made the experience all the more surreal and unforgettable.
July 15, 2024
Helmet Vanga
The Helmet Vanga might just be my favorite bird. Found only in the lowland rainforests of northeastern Madagascar, this incredibly rare bird is truly spectacular.
When I visited Madagascar in the summer of 2024, the Helmet Vanga immediately caught my attention—not only because it graced the cover of my Indian Ocean Island Field Guide, but also because so many Malagasy birders spoke of it with deep admiration.
Millions of years ago, the Vanga was a passerine immigrant to Madagascar. It has since evolved into approximately 22 distinct species on the island with varying bill and body types. Similarly to Darwin’s finches, Vangas in Madagascar have developed specialized bills adapted to their respective diets. Today, Malagasy Vangas are closely related to shrike-like passerines found across mainland Africa and Southeast Asia. Their evolution on the island is an example of adaptive radiation, a process famously documented by Charles Darwin during his studies of the Galápagos finches.
The Helmet Vanga, in particular, has drawn countless birders to the Masoala rainforest. Its striking plumage and large, bright blue bill—perfectly suited for eating insects and larger invertebrates such as chameleons and lizards—make it an unforgettable sight. Typically foraging in the rainforest’s midstory, the Helmet Vanga can be surprisingly elusive, often remaining still and silent for long stretches.
Sadly, the species is now listed as Endangered by the IUCN. Madagascar’s conservation crisis is severe: over 80% of its original primary rainforest has been lost to slash-and-burn agriculture, leaving behind vast ecological wastelands. If this destructive practice continues, much of the island’s extraordinary biodiversity could vanish forever.
Yet, hope remains. Masoala National Park, the largest protected rainforest in Madagascar, provides refuge for countless species of birds, reptiles, and lemurs, shielding them from extinction. Expanding conservation education and supporting rewilding efforts are essential steps toward preserving Madagascar’s natural heritage—and ensuring that remarkable species like the Helmet Vanga continue to thrive for generations to come.
July 15, 2024
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher
As my journey through Madagascar was nearing its end, I had so far encountered only female and non-breeding male Madagascar Paradise Flycatchers. This species, with its warm rufous-collared plumage and short tails, had quickly won my admiration. I often observed them flitting back and forth between perches in pursuit of flying insects—always maintaining a comfortable distance from nearby humans.
My final stop was the famed Masoala Rainforest. While on a night hike, I stumbled across a beautiful male Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher perched in a cinnamon tree, fast asleep. This was a thrilling sighting for me as all of the individuals I had previously spotted lacked the striking plumage and elongated tail feathers that this sleeping male had already fully developed.
This species is known to occur in two distinct color morphs. Males in the rufous morph develop rich chestnut plumage during the breeding season, while those in the nominate white morph display a striking black-and-white coloration. Both forms grow elongated tail feathers reaching up to 18 cm in length—used solely to attract potential mates.
The male I encountered belonged to the white morph and was already in full breeding plumage. Seeing such a pristine individual before the breeding season had begun was an unexpected delight. Even the hotel’s nature guide expressed her surprise at the sight, noting how rare it was to find a male in peak plumage so early in the season.