Bird Photo: Black-crowned Night-Heron Adult

Yesterday's post was of a juvenile Night Heron.

Today, I got closer to an adult and will attempt to get farther downstream as weather permits.

It seems Okinawa's late-starting rainy season will hit tonight or, tomorrow morning.

Good news -- Bad News, I guess depends on how you look at things.

To reach this bird, I have been slashing my way through some rough jungle.

Rain, will make things much cooler and, dampen some of the noise, I have been making.

Once I eliminate a few hundred yards, between us, I'll get a much more detailed photo.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 500mm

Exposure:  f/11  1/60   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

GPS Coordinates embedded as EXIF Data

Wildlife Photos: Okinawa Rail an Endangered Species

The Okinawa Rail ( Gallirallus okinawae ) is better known locally as a Yanbaru Kuina.  This photo, of an adult Kuina, was taken at Ada Kunigami Okinawa, Japan on July 31, 2001 shortly before 7AM.

These birds are practically flightless but, when they get spooked, will run pretty fast and be out of sight quicker than you can focus on them.  They live in areas where plenty of broad-leafed vegetation grows and fresh water is available.  They eat bugs, lizzards and snails.  The Okinawa Rail's enemies are snakes, the Mongoose and idiots who drive too fast along the mountain roads.

Here is a photo of a juvenile Yanbaru Kuina.  I'm including it so everyone knows what they look like, too.  The adults are much easier to identify because of the bright colored beak and they get all the attention on posters warning people to look out for them.  

When driving around in the northern areas of Okinawa look out for the little guys, too. 

If they get squished the Okinawa Rail won't be an Endangered Species, anymore.  They'll be extinct !

REFERENCE:

ARKive