MALAYSIAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Tin ore was discovered in the Taiping area in 1848 and when that declined the adminstering Bristish changed the landscape and left a system of lakes at the foot of Maxwell Hill. Hundreds of locals do their morning exercise around these lakes. Various wildlife call the area home. From December 2024 there were four oriental pied hornbill nests in the raintrees (Samanea saman) around the lakes. Hornbills require tree caviies to nest and these are generally in short supply. The female will be incarcerated in the mostly sealed cavity where she will lay eggs and feed the chicks for nearly 3 months. The female and chicks will be fed by the male through a narrow slit at the entrance. I was present when the male hornbill inspected the nest cavity in December 2024 as a suitable place to raise a family and the nest was established soon after. Disaster occurred on a wet and windy night in mid-February (2025) when the tree toppled over. The angle of the ...

  Introduction I have visited Langkawi, located in the north of peninsular Malaysia near Thailand, at least 8 times in the last 12 years. Langkawi nature is characterized by its diverse landscapes, including mountains, beaches, rainforests and mangroves. The island is known for its rich biodiversity, including various spectacular plant and animal species, and is a popular destination for nature lovers and a haven for wildlife photographers. Langkawi retains the look of rural Malaysia as well as offering 5 star accommodation in rainforest settings. Langkawi's name is believed to have originated from the Malay words 'helang' (eagle) and 'kawi' (reddish brown, or a type of red stone). A large statue of an eagle greets visitors to Langkawi in Eagle Square. In current nomenclature the eagle depicted is the Brahminy Kite, a common raptor in Langkawi. The species is known in Australia, and sometimes locally, as the Red-backed eagle. Eagle statue at Eagle Square This leads ...