ANIMAL: Bali Mynah Leucopsar rotschildi Type of Animal: Songbird Habitat: Savanna, open/closed woodland, forested valleys, open/closed forest, forest edge Location(s): Only found in N.W. Bali in Bali Barat National Park, small islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, & Nusa Lembongan, & Begawan Foundation’s breeding/release site at Melinggih Kelod, Payangan north of Balinese capital Ubud. Appearance: White w/ black wingtip feathers, male has slightly more prominent head crest than female, greyish legs, blue bare skin around eyes, yellow bill. Food/Diet: Fruit, caterpillars, ants, grasshoppers, dragonflies, flies, eggs, grubs, worms, seeds, small lizards Status in Wild: Critically Endangered Conservation: Breeding from zoos, wildlife parks, & breeding centers. Reintroduction programs into wild from captive-bred birds. Lifestyle: Found in small flocks for most of year. They break off into pairs for breeding/nesting season. Additional Info: Called: Male-Cock Female-Hen Young-Chick Group-Flock Weight: Male-3.52 oz Female-2.88 oz Gestation: 14-15 days Height: Male-9 in Female-8.52 in Body Length: Male-9 in Female-8.52 in Life Span: Up to 25 years in captivity Main predators are snakes, monitor lizards, raptors, & monkeys. Critically endangered due to pet/bird trade, logging/deforestation, habitat loss, conversion of habitat into farms, nest-site competition w/ Black-Winged Mynahs, & civil/political/economic strife. Less than 100 left in the wild. There are around 1,000 of these birds in captivity. Many zoos have taken part in reintroduction efforts into the wild. Chicks stay w/ parents for up to 3 months. Sexually mature at 1 year old. During breeding season (typically rainy/monsoon season), male gives impressive display/song to mate. Female responds w/ her own calls. Only comes to ground to drink/find nesting materials. Bali Starling Conservation Project established in 1999 to reintroduce birds into wild. Have ‘tschick, tschick, tschick’ alarm call. Nests usually built in tree cavities or old woodpecker holes. Make ‘creer’ sound when taking off. Fun Fact(s): While much more famed for work w/ chimps, Jane Goodall assisted in release of 2 Bali Mynahs in 2014. Could be twice as many of these birds on black market than in legal hands. They’ve been able to mimic human voices. This species was discovered in 1912 by British ornithologist Lord Rothschild. Official bird of Bali & an important symbol of Indonesia. Known to be quite friendly in captivity. Also called Rothschild’s Mynah, Bali Starling, Rothschild’s Starling, & Jalak Bali. Only bird species endemic to Bali.
