Tag Archives: Canon outdoor Okinawa

Searching for the Amami Oshima Frog by Shawn Miller

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The Amami Oshima frog is featured in National Geographic this month for the series ” Wildlife As Canon Sees It “

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The Amami Oshima Frog (Odorrana splendida) is considered the most beautiful frog found in Japan. It is only found on Amami Island and is listed as an endangered species. It is one of the many endemic species facing extinction due to habitat loss. This protected species is designated as a living national treasure of Okinawa.

  • Scientific name: Odorrana splendida
  • Distribution:  Amami Island
  • Habitat:  Forest streams 
  • Diet:  Insects, worms, and millipedes
  • Average Size:  90mm-110mm

Odorrano splendida 6 Amami Island

We were on the Island for a short period of time but managed to see eight Amami Oshima frogs. It rained the entire time but that didn’t stop us, we were on the mission to find the endemic species. I explored the island with Zoologist Valdimir Dinets and bat Scientist Jason Preble.  We were fortunate to see the Amami rabbit, Amami Jay, Owston’s woodpecker, Hime habu, Ryukyu robin, Amami woodcock, Amami Spiny rat, Otton frog, Amami tip-nosed frog, Whip scorpion, Wood pigeon, Coral snake, Crocodile newt and the banded ground gecko endemic to Tokunoshima. Below are some of my favorite images of the Amami Oshima frog in it’s natural habitat.

Odorrano splendida 11 Amami Island

Odorrano splendida 3 Amami Island Odorrano splendida 9 Amami Island Odorrano splendida 13 Amami Island Odorrano splendida 14 Amami Island

We also found a small pond with Amami Oshima tadpoles.

IMG_0655Please pay attention wildlife crossing the roads at night.

Ishikawas frog - Roadkill

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 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 

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

Birding and Plastic Dreams by Shawn Miller

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Birding is one of the most popular hobbies for all ages. I find it enjoyable and extremely relaxing. It doesn’t matter where I go on Okinawa, I seem to find beautiful animals and trash. The animals have been forced to live with our single use waste.  Below are some of my documentation photographs of animals surrounded by our waste.

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Plastic Okinawa © Shawn Miller

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Birding Okinawa © Shawn Miller

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Birding Okinawa © Shawn Miller

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Birding Okinawa © Shawn Miller

You can see how a bird could accidentally confuse single use plastic for actual fish. Now days, majority of marine birds have some form of plastic inside their stomachs.

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Plastic pollution © Shawn Miller

This Gull arrived on Okinawa February 2016 with oil residue on its feathers. It spent most of the day bathing in the salt water trying to shake of the oil.

Black-tailed gull

Birding © Shawn Miller 

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Plastic bag © Shawn Miller

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Crab trash @Shawn Miller

Jungle crow and plastic

Jungle crow and plastic

Even the endangered Okinawa rail (Gallirallus okinawae) has to deal with our waste.

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Okinawa rail (Gallirallus okinawae) © Shawn Miller

Roadside streams are a great place to photograph waterbirds. This may look like a small waterfall but it’s actually a huge piece of plastic, beautiful isn’t it?

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Plastic waterfalls © Shawn Miller

This post is not to make people sad, guilty or lose hope, It is to bring awareness to the ongoing trash problem in our oceans and on our shorelines. We all have the ability to make a difference by reducing the amount of single-use items we use daily.

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The truth hurts © Shawn Miller

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations. – If you would like to join my journey, check out my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MakeTheSwitch4Nature

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

Fly like a gray-faced buzzard eagle by Shawn Miller

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The Gray-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) is one of the most fascinating predatory birds of the Ryukyu Islands. They are a common species that migrate to Okinawa in the first week of October. I have observed these mid-sized predatory birds feeding on small insects, rodents and lizards.

  • Scientific name:  (Butastur indicus)
  • Common Name: Gray-faced buzzard hawk or eagle
  • Distribution:  Winters in Okinawa
  • Habitat: Forests, parks, farm fields, and local neighbors 
  • Diet:  Lizards, grasshoppers and a variety of insects
  • Average Size:  50cm 

They are mainly found perching high in trees. Notice how well they blend into the surrounding environment.

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They are also found perching high on electrical poles, wires, and rooftops.

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Look close and you can see the nictitating membrane, its used to protect and moisten the eye.
16599684692_b410d078ac_bI recommend using a telephoto lens to photograph these shy birds. They have a tendency to fly away as soon as you point the camera lens at them.

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In recent years I have noticed an increase in the population of these beautiful migratory birds.

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment. 

 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