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
This may be the biggest bird on the whole island of Okinawa, Japan. If anyone finds one larger let me know and I'll go shoot that one, too.
You can see this statue of the Yanbaru Kuina, an endangered species, found in Okinawa from Hedo Misaki.
That's at the northern tip of the island. I took this photo from the road leading to the big bird.
And, I wandered around to the other side for two good reasons.
I wanted to prove we get sunshine during rainy season, even if it only lasts a few minutes.
Plus, I wanted to show you how big this freakin bird really is. This didn't really give a sense of scale.
So, I walked around and got under the dang thing. I took off one of my 12 inch shoes to show you that bird has toenails longer than my shoe. Is that a freakin big bird, or what ? I got photos to prove it !
This bird, I'll post for LadyE's Travel Photo Thursday. She has a site called Budget Travelers Sandbox and while I was snoopin around inside the two-story bird I discovered some places in there where you could probably sleep overnight, if you're real quiet, for FREE.
If cops come and try to arrest you, tell them something like, YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW MADE YOU DO IT.
See travel photos from around the globe at TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY and while you're there wish Nancie a Happy Birthday. Do like me, I give her a ThumbsUp and Google her all the time !
