Nias Myna

Nias Myna (尼亞鷯哥)

Indonesia (2015)
5th November, 2015. Jakarta

Nias Myna is endemic to the island of Nias in South East Asia and other nearby islands off western Sumatra.

The number of Nias Hill Mynahs has declined substantially in the wild due to trapping for the illegal pet trade and loss of habitat from deforestation. In a bird survey of Nias Island in 1990, Dymond failed to find any Nias Mynas in a 17 day stay.

They are now not available for the pet markets or importing, and are now protected.

This is a large stocky myna, averaging 30 - 36 cm or 12 - 40.5 cm or 14 inches in length. They weigh approximately 400 grams or 14 oz. It is significantly larger than the Common Hill Myna and much larger than the Greater Indian Hill. In fact, it is the largest of all the Hill mynahs.

The Nias Myna has a mainly purple-glossed black plumage. It has bright orange-yellow patches of naked skin and large fleshy yellow wattles (loose folds of skin) on the side of its head and nape. There are large white wing patches which are obvious in flight.

The massive bill is mainly red, and the strong legs are bright yellow.

Waterbirds of Indonesia

From left to right :
Blue-faced Rail (藍臉秧雞) ; Milky Stork (灰䴉鸛)
Javan Plover (爪哇鴴) ; White-shouldered Ibis (白肩黑䴉)
Indonesia (2014)
30th August, 2014. Jakarta

Indonesia is rich in waterbirds; it is home to about 380 species of these wetland dependent bird species. Waterbirds are extremely important both from a conservation and recreational point of view. Most of these species have adapted to the drastically changing conditions of wetlands through their migratory behaviour. Wetlands International works in Indonesia to protect waterbird populatons by taking a leading role in conservation work, and by building and sharing knowledge.

Many waterbirds complete annual migrations of several thousands of kilometres between their breeding and non-breeding areas, passing many country borders and even between continents. These migration routes are called flyways. Waterbird conservation and sustainable management requires coordinated actions throughout the length of a flyway. Indonesia belongs to the East Asian – Australasian Flyway.

Environmental care

Lesser Adjutant (禿鸛) ; Giant Mud Crab (鋸緣青蟹)
Indonesia (2014)
30th August, 2014. Jakarta

Llesser adjutant is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related greater adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia to Java.

Giant Mud Crab is an economically important species of crab found in the estuaries and mangroves of Africa, Australia and Asia. In their most common form, the shell colour varies from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown. The natural range of Giant Mud Crab is in the Indo-Pacific. It is found from South Africa, around the coast of the Indian Ocean to the Malay Archipelago, as well as from southern Japan to south-eastern Australia, and as far east as Fiji and Samoa. The species has also been introduced to Hawaii and Florida.

Brahminy Kite

Brahminy Kite (栗鳶)
Indonesia (2008)
20th April, 2013. Palmerah, Jakarta Barat

Unfortunately it is not a good cover as two postmarks are not clear, it is hard to identify where did it send. Actually I don't collect souvenir sheet due to it just for stamp collector and it seems oddly to be used on any envelope, anyway I do say thanks to the sender.

Brahminy Kite has been shown in last post of Indonesia, but the sheet more clear to show the species in flying motion.

Another mail from Indonesia

From left to right :
2500r : Knobbed Hornbill (蘇拉皺盔犀鳥) ; 1000r : Zebra Dove (斑姬地鳩)
1000r : Brahminy Kite (栗鳶)
Indonesia (2010)
10th November, 2012. Jakarta

In the meanwhile, Martin also send me another ordinary mail features 3 stamps issued on 2010. Again, these three are endemic or near endemic species to Indonesia. Knobbed Hornbill is distributed in the tropical evergreen forests of Sulawesi, Buton, Lembeh, Togian and Muna Island. Zebra Dove extends from Southern Thailand, Tenasserim, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Lombok. Brahminy Kite can be found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Registered mail from Indonesia

From left to right :
Siau Scops Owl (斯歐角鴞) ; Flores Hawk-Eagle (弗氏鷹雕)
Elegant Sunbird (亮麗太陽鳥) ; Invisible Rail (大嘴秧雞)
Indonesia (2012)
10th November, 2012. Bea Kirim Rp., Jakarta

Perhaps during 2009, Indonesia Post begins to computerise their postal system and using 13-digited registration barcode, at the same time the payment method changed to per-paid by cash instead of stamps. It is, therefore stamp is not necessary used on registered mail. However here shown an example which stupid to affix stamp when I requested. Thanks Martin to do it for me as it is very attractive.

The stamps on envelope issued on 2012 features 4 endemic threatened species to Indonesia, Siau Scops Owl is endemic to Siau Island but lost their tracks since 1992. Flores Hawk-Eagle is distributed in forests of Flores, Lombok and Sumbawa in the Lesser Sundas, occurs from lowlands to as high as 1,600 metres. Elegant Sunbird is distributed to the island of Sangihe, north of Sulawesi, locally common in the forests and plantations near Mount Sahendaruman in southern Sangihe. Invisible Rail is native to the remotest and densest parts of the sago swamp forests and wetlands of Halmahera, favoring the edge habitats where swamp meets forests and clearings. Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size and limited range, four species are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered in IUCN list.

However I hope the country issues more parrot or birds of paradise since they are having large colonies in this thousand-island country. Below shown the receipt of registered mail attached at the front of envelope.

Lesser Whistling Duck

Lesser Whistling Duck (栗樹鴨)
Indonesia (2000)
9th November, 2009. Tanahmas, Semarang

Lesser Whistling Duck is not first time to show in this blog, however it only has been appeared as small bird of Cambodia issue. The bird quite commonly resident in south and south-east Asian countries, from Sri Lanka, India, Malay to Vietnam and Indonesia, also the south bank of Yangzi River of China, Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands. In Indonesia, the species only to be found in Sumatra, Java, south-west of Kalimantan and its nearest islands. The type locality of Lesser Whistling Duck located in Java.

Above cover sent from Semarang, where is a town of northern Java. Actually it is not first mail from Indonesia but is first one affixed with bird stamps. The stamp issued on 2000 as reprinted and colour changed, original stamp issued on 1998 was one of Duck definitive stamp set. Swap stamps and covers with Indonesian is not easy as the mails always lost in this country and don't have any recovery.