Birding in Bali

Bali is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. International and domestic visitors go there to see its beautiful nature. There are tropical beaches, coral reef, islands, mountains and lakes which visitors can explore. Balinese have got unique culture that can be seen from their every day life, art works, religious ceremonies and dances. 

Bali Myna featured on Indonesian coin of 200 rupiahs that was minted on 2003

Bali, for birdwatchers is also an important destination. Its forest, farmland, botanical garden and coastal areas are the habitat of a lot of species of avifauna. There are Bali Myna, Javan-banded Pitta, Sunda-collared Dove, Zebra Dove, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Black-backed Fruit Dove, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, Malaysian Pied Fantail, Coppersmith Barbet, Collared Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Pacific Swift, Cave Swiftlet, White-tailed Tropicbird, Javan Plover, Malaysian Plover, Sunda Teal, Purple Heron, Medium Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Beach Thick Knee, Little Tern, Black-naped Tern, Brown-backed Needletail,  Green Junglefowl, Red Junglefowl, Chestnut-headed Beeeater, Javan Scimitar Babbler, White-shouldered Triller.

Javan-banded Pitta

The most popular birding site is the National Park of West Bali. That's the site for finding Bali Myna and Javan-banded Pitta. Other birding places include the Complex Area of Uluwatu Temple, Farmland Area of Ubud and Bedugul Botanical Garden. 

Sunda-collared Dove

Visitors who do birding in Uluwatu has to be extra careful with their belongings including bags, cameras, cell-phones, and glasses. Monkeys that live in the park often steal those articles from visitors. The main target of observation for birds in the cliff area of Uluwatu and the trees in the park are Cave Swiftlet, Pacific Swift, Common Iora, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, and White-tailed Tropic Bird. 

Oriental Pied Hornbill in Bali

The farmland of Ubud is mostly filled with rice plantation. It is the site for watching Javan Pond Heron, Collared Kingfisher, and Cattle Egret. 

Cattle Egret birds likes to follow a farmer who is operating a plowing tractor. They like to eat worm or fish that are exposed from the soil that has just been turn by the blades of the agricultural tractor.

In West Bali region, visitors could find Bali Myna, Black-winged Myna, Javan Sparrow, Javan Myna, Javan Munia, Javan Kingfisher, Javan-banded Pitta, Flame-fronted Barbet, White-crowned Forktail, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Racquet-tail Treepie, and a lot of other species of tropical birds of Bali island.

This is written by Charles Roring

E-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com, 

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