Monthly Archives: August 2018

When The Red Tractor’s Arrive The Egrets Will Thrive

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Red Tractors of Okinawa

Reflections of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

On Okinawa, we have six species of Egrets (Great, Intermediate, Cattle, Little, Chinese, and Pacific Reef Egret).  Egrets spend most of the day foraging on food in the grasslands. They are opportunistic hunters and have learned a new behavior. They follow a tractor as it plows the field and food rewards are given in large amounts. The tractor plow exposes insects, worms, snakes, eels, mice, and frogs.  The payoff is great, a large amount of food in a short period of time.

Plowing the field

Plowing the field © Shawn Miller

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Farming on Okinawa © Shawn Miller

These specialized birds are beneficial for local farming fields. Egrets also feed on grasshoppers and caterpillars that can devastate farmers crops in a matter of days. 

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Egrets feeding © Shawn Miller

One of the egret’s favorite food is the Japanese marsh frog. The last wave goodbye.

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Goodbye © Shawn Miller

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All you can eat buffet © Shawn Miller

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Frog legs © Shawn Miller

Egrets can also be found huntings in wetlands and the shorelines on Okinawa. Here they spend many hours patiently hunting with small rewards of food.

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Wings spread © Shawn Miller

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Striking a pose © Shawn Miller

I have observed these birds hunting for hours on many occasions and the majority of the time they miss their prey in the wetlands.

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The miss © Shawn Miller

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Nature and waste © Shawn Miller

The sad truth is our waste is a serious problem for all animals worldwide.

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That’s not food © Shawn Miller

Let’s work together to make a difference.

The motion of flight © Shawn Miller

Birds in motion © Shawn Miller

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Dinah’s Goby – living in glass homes by Shawn Miller

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Brightly colored gobies are popular subjects for underwater macro photographers in the beautiful waters of Okinawa.  The Dinah’s goby (Lubricogobius dinah) adapts by using man-made objects as a protective shelter. Discarded glass bottles and cans are prime real-estate for a variety of Marine life in the Ocean.

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  • Scientific name:  (Lubricogobius dinah)
  • Common Name: Dinah’s goby
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: Sandy bottom, living in shells and bottles 
  • Depth: 20-50meters
  • Diet: Plankton
  • Average Size: 25mm

You will need a designated macro lens to photograph this beautiful Goby. Approach slowly and avoid any sudden movement.

Goby glass bottle © Shawn Miller

When threatened,  the Goby will retreat into the glass bottle.

The Dinah’s goby © Shawn Miller

The Dinah’s goby © Shawn Miller

I was fortunate to have the goby pose for a photograph.

The Dinah’s goby © Shawn Miller

I used the Light&Motion Sola Nightsea to light up the mouth of the bottle to create this beautiful image.

46985777982_f95bc7c3e9_bThe shy goby in a more natural home.

DSC_9499 Know your nature with Shawn Miller. Have a great day!