Okinawa wildlife | Okinawa Nature Photography

Okinawa is a subtropical paradise with warm weather and beautiful beaches. The Island has some of the best scuba diving in the world. Okinawa is rich in natural scenery. We have a variety of endemic species only found here.

Designated Flora and Fauna of Okinawa Prefectural

(1) The Double-lined fusilier (Pterocaesio digramma) was designated as Okinawa’s prefectural fish in 1972. The Gurukun (local name) is the most popular fish served in local restaurants. The small fish has two distinctive bright yellow lines running along the body. Found in large schools over coral reefs.

Double-lines fusilier – Nightdive

They can change color and pattern to avoid detection on the reef.

Banafish (Pterocaesio digramma)

(2) The Deigo flower (Indian coral bean) was designated as Okinawa’s prefectural flower in 1972. The elegant flowers bloom in March, April and May. The sweet smell attracts a variety of insects, fruit bats, and birds during the season.

Deigo tree

Deigo tree

The sweet smell attracts a variety of insects, fruit bats, and birds during the season.

Deigo flower (Indian coral bean)

(3) The Okinawan woodpecker (Dendrocopos noguchii) was designated as Okinawa’s prefectural bird in 1972. This beautiful woodpecker is a living natural treasure of Japan. Populations of the critically endangered species are declining rapidly.

Okinawan woodpecker (Dendrocopos noguchii)

A few photographs of the Okinawa woodpecker (prefectural bird) feeding on the Deigo flower (prefectural flower).

Okinawan woodpecker and Deigo flower

Okinawan woodpecker and Deigo flower

The Okinawan woodpecker was featered in National Geographic for the series Wildlife as canon sees it (May 2015)

Okinawa Woodpecker by Shawn Miller

(4) The Ryukyu pine tree (Pinus Luchuensis Mayr) was designated as Okinawa’s prefectural tree in 1972.

Zakimi pine forest

Nento Hiramatsu is the oldest pine tree located on Iheya Island. This beautiful pine tree is listed as a living natural treasure of Japan.

Nento Hiramatsu, Iheya Island

The beautiful Ryukyu Pine forest at Zakimi Castle.

Ryukyu Pine trees – Zakimi

The Okinawa woodpecker (prefectural bird) searching for insects on The Ryukyu pine tree (prefectural tree). The Okinawa woodpecker is native to the Yanbaru forest in northern Okinawa.

Okinawa woodpecker and Ryukyu Pine

I love the natural shapes of the Ryukyu Pine trees. (Natures fine art)

Ryukyu Pine on Ie Island

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations

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

The Stella 2000 offers lightweight professional lighting for photographers and videographers. It delivers 2000 lumens of beautiful wide light on high power. It is waterproof to a depth of 100 meters and extremely durable.

Stella 2000 waterproof lighting © Shawn Miller

My favorite features of the Stella 2000

Waterproof to 100 meters
Can be mounted on the camera hot-shoe, light stand, loc-line arms or ball mounts.
Quick adjustable power output control
Fast charging and the ability to use the light when it’s charging

I tested the Stella 2000 in the humid jungle and on the shorelines of northern Okinawa. I used it as a spotting light, hiking light, camera modeling light and video light. I tested the light with the 120-beam angle with no modifiers, with custom-made soft-boxes attached, studio umbrellas and with the combination of on-off camera flash.

I concentrated on the reptiles, amphibians and land crabs of northern Okinawa. Below are some of my favorite photographs.