Join us on June 12th as Shawn Miller, Naturalist and Wildlife photographer, discusses Okinawa’s biodiversity and answers questions about wildlife and conservation photography.
All ages are welcome. See you then!
Have a great day,
Shawn
Tag Archives: Okinawa wildlife Photographer Shawn M Miller
I Finally Found the Yanbaru Kuina
When I tell people I am a nature photographer, they often ask me if I have ever seen a Yanbaru kuina. Friends are always so excited to tell me that they found a Yanbaru kuina in central Okinawa. I feel bad telling them the bad news. More than likely, they found a common moorhen. The common moorhen is often mistaken for the Yanbaru kuina.
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) has a bright red head shield, yellow legs with distinctive white feathers underneath. The Common moorhen is found near marshes, local parks and small rivers. This bird is very common in Okinawa
- Scientific name: Gallinula chloropus
- Common Name: Common moorhen
- Distribution: Okinawan wide
- Habitat: City parks, rivers and creeks
- Diet: Vegetation and small aquatic animals
- Average Size: 30 to 37 cm
The Difference: The Yanbaru kuina ( Okinawa rail ) has an orange beak with bright orange legs. The underneath is black with white bars.
The Yanbaru kuina is a flightless bird found in northern Okinawa. It is a protected species and declared a living natural treasure. It is currently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species. In 2012 populations of this endemic bird were estimated at 1500 by the Environment Ministry. As of October 2016 populations have declined to 480 mature individuals according to IUCN assessment.
- Scientific name: Hypotaenidia okinawae
- Common Name: Okinawa Rail
- Japanese Name: Yanbaru kuina
- Distribution: Northern Okinawa
- Habitat: Forests
- Diet: Small insects, worms, snails and fruit.
- Average Size: 31cm
- Threats: Habitat loss, and the threat of mongoose and feral cats.
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
Spiders, Webs and Warning Signs – Okinawa, Japan
In the last few months, I have been searching for spiders with unique web designs. The stabilimentum serves a different function for different species of spiders. The Oval St. Andrew’s Cross Spider is a master at designing its web with an obvious warning sign. Researchers believe the X-like stabilimentum serves as a warning to prevent birds from destroying the web.
Theories why orb-weavers have specialized web decorations
- Stabilize the web
- Make the spider look much larger
- Disguise itself / Camouflage
- lure prey in (ultraviolet light)
- Serve as a warning sign for large birds
- An attractive piece of art/lure in a mate
Argiope aemula -X-factor
Octonoba yaeyamensis has a very unique stabilimentum. The pattern reminds me of the mysterious design the Amami pufferfish constructs to lure in the female.
What purpose does this design serve?
- Hide under the web /disguise itself
- Beautiful design to lure in a mate or insects
- Deterrent- scare off larger animals to prevent web damage
Octonoba yaeyamensis
When I first found this spider it was hiding under the stabilimentum. It serves as camouflage and protection from ultraviolet light (sunblock strand). I found it in the open sunlight on a branching leaf.
Octonoba yaeyamensis
Another strange design possibly used to attract a mate or hypnotize insects.
Cyclosa ginnaga (female)
Eriophora yanbaruensis has a simple design, possibly used to attract a mate.
Eriophora yanbaruensis
Gleaming light created this beautiful spider web prism.
Spider web prism
I have always wondered if spiders are unknown musicians. Their web has to produce some type of sound frequency. The tension of the web gently plucked by the spider or just blowing in the wind.
Do spiders use attractive frequencies to lure in insects or mates?
Spider web prism
The next step is to photograph the x-shaped stabilimentum under ultraviolet light. stay tuned to see my results.
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
The Chinese soft-shell turtle – Aquatic turtles of Okinawa
This year we have had an abundance of rain on Okinawa. Locals have been finding a great deal of turtles on the road, specifically the Chinese soft-shell turtle ( Pelodiscus sinensis ). This soft shell turtle was originally introduced as a food source. This species is currently listed as vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.
- Scientific name: Pelodiscus sinensis
- Common name: Chinese softshell turtle
- Distribution: Introduced to most of Japan and the Ryukyu Islands
- Habitat: Ponds, drainage ditches, rice paddies and farm fields.
- Diet: Insects, fish, frogs, snails, and plants
- Average size: 30-35cm
- Color: Olive gray
An adult soft turtle found in the farm fields at night.
A large female I found laying eggs on the bank of a small water source.
A closeup of a soft turtle infested with leaches. Stop staring!
Meet chunky
The beautiful farm fields of Okinawa, prime habitat for aquatic turtles.
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 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.
#MakeTheSwitch4Nature
Birding and Plastic Dreams by Shawn Miller
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.
Plastic Okinawa © Shawn Miller
Birding Okinawa © Shawn Miller
Birding Okinawa © Shawn Miller
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.
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.
Birding © Shawn Miller
Plastic bag © Shawn Miller
Crab trash @Shawn Miller
Jungle crow and plastic
Even the endangered Okinawa rail (Gallirallus okinawae) has to deal with our waste.
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?
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.
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.