Storm-petrels-Family Hydrobatidae

A small family oceanic birds similar to shearwaters but smaller with a more fluttery flight and with the nostril tubes joined into a single aperture.

Storm-petrels are the smallest oceanic birds and their weak butterfly like flight and habit of hovering and treading the water with their webbed feet makes them easy to recognize from other seabirds.
Storm-petrels feed on small crustaceans or floating organic debris. They nest in rock crevices and burrows on rocky shores and islands.
Individual species are often difficult to distinguish but only two species are recorded for Javan waters.
Key to Javan Storm-Petrels
Rump white………………………………………….Oceanites oceanicus
Rump dark grey……………………....................Oceanodroma monorhis
source: Mckinnon. Java and Bali. Gadjah Mada University Press. Jojakarta

Surrounding Bali: landscape, religion and civilization

The southern slopes of Bali’s central volcanoes are heavely cultivated and rice terraces extend high up the mountain sides. This area is the cradle of Bali’s rich and ancient civilization. It is virtually the only region of Indonesia that remains Hindu today, left to go its own way during the wave of Islamization that swept through the archipelago in the 15th century, they were so fascinated by what they found that they made a concerted effort to conserve and foster Bali’s traditional culture.

As traditional Balinese art commonly features birds, a painting would features birds, a painting would seem to make the ideal souvenir. It is quite a challenge, however to find a piece depicting only native species American Cardinals. Australian Rossellas and south American toucans regularly pop up among the lotus pools and nymphs-just one example of the ease with which Balinese culture accepts new and foreign elements. Perhaps the growing popularity of bird-watching will help the Balinese to appreciate the beuty and variety of their own native birds.

Nowhere matches Bali for such a fusion of birds, landscapes and cultures-for birders with eclectic interests it is an island not to be missed.