This Issue · ~~~n.rTr- "~"T~~~ ID 0, C by Sheldon Dingle, Alhambra, California (5 tlitl1 l _ · ~' ...... _L (f) >­ .0 o(f) 15 L a.. often find myself traveling thither and yon on one sort of mission or I another. The advantage is that I can usually manage to visit bird-related people and places while still attending to the task at hand. Just a few weeks ago, having com­ pleted inescapable duty in the Philippines, I thought about the zoo­ geographical region of this issue - the southeast Asian peninsular area from northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam Many of the enclosures in the Bali Bird Park reflect the wry unique traditional architecture of south through Malaysia to Singapore the island's Hindu culture. The small domed stn/Cture on the right is rolttine~y decorated with then the islands of the Malay small religious offerings offlowers. Here you will enjoy the beautiful birds in a beautifiil and Archipelago as far east as Bali. exotic setting. Why stop at Bali, you say, right in region were quite well known. When ofthese birds again; but during a stay there of the middle of Indonesia? Actually, three months I never saw one of them, but because of the Wallace's Line. What, Wallace reached Bali, he noted many of the san1e birds that were also found on found a totally different set of species, most of pray tell, is the Wallace's Line and why which were utterly unknown not only in Java, do we stop there? Good questions. Java lying just to the west across a nar­ but also in Borneo, Sumatra, and Malacca. In 1856 an Englishman, Alfred Russel row strait. Most noticeable, perhaps of the Wallace, after three years of Malay trav­ However, when Wallace went east­ "new set of species" on Lomboc were els, was working his way from the ward to Lomboc he made an unex­ the white cockatoos more commonly Malay Peninsula down through the pected discovery. He later wrote: associated with Australia. Some sort of islands of the Malay Archipelago. On crossing over to Lomboc, separated "line" had been crossed. Because of the Dutch and English set­ from Bali by a strait less than twenty miles This line became known as tlements in the area, the birds of the wide, I naturally expected to meet with some Wallace's Line in honor of the first fel- Jurong Bird Park covers acres of rolling hills and valleys. Some of the aviaries, such as this huge Flamingo display, can be viewed from different levels. Ifyou don 't want to walk, ride the modem tramway system and see the whole park. 4 July / Augus t 2000 Pacific Ocean ,. • , · I· Celebes Sea: • HALMAHERA ~ .. ~ ES\ '.' • • ' ~ ... • t1II'* • CERAM .... •-1 ArqfuraSea Indian Ocean The above map shows just where the Wallace's Line runs. A reduced version accompanies each article for pertinent low to recognize and publicize it. birds of the region west of the Line. like Bali. Despite the tourism, Bali has Observe the map above and see the kept its culture and traditions alive and clearly marked Wallace's Line. thriving. Indonesia is the world's most Later scientists determined that the found in the zoogeographical region populous Muslim nation yet the vast secret of the Wallace's Line is really of this issue. majority of people on Bali are Hindu. deep water. The islands to the west of Although this minor treatise of the This lends a totally unique mystique to the line are on the continental shelf Wallace's Line is overly simplified, you the island. with Bali being right on the edge of can easily see why the zoogeographi­ It carries over to Taman Burnng - the shelf. Lomboc, to the east, is not on cal focus of this issue stops at Bali. the Bali Bird Park. The bird park is the shelf at all but rises from the deep very well laid out and planted. The first sea. The Wallace's Line traces the path Travels in the thing Westerners may notice in the of the deep water. It marks the bound­ Malay Archipelago and Peninsula tropics is the overwhelming GREEN. ary between the Asiatic and Australian As mentioned above, having The bird park is lush. The aviaries and birds (as well as other flora and fauna). thought about the zoogeographical collection of birds are excellent. The The islands on the shelf were at one region of this issue for quite awhile, I park has the flavor, architecture, and time all connected by land to the Malay decided to take advantage of my having "feeling" of Bali. There is an excellent Peninsula, thus Bali shares many of the to be in southeast Asia anyway. Only I restaurant and gift shop - all things to animals and plants found on Java, did it backwards from the path Wallace make one comfortable in a bird lovers Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula. took - I began in Bali and worked west. heaven. Note that the Philippines are on the Bali does, indeed, present some When you do go to Bali, I recom­ Australian side of the line - with the delights to the bird lover and avicul­ mend staying at Villa Nilla, a group of exception of the pristine island of turist. Here I will merely highlight delightful bungalows provided by Palawan which is influenced by both them with the intention of writing of Delano Ruess and his wife Nilla the Australian and Asian sectors. For them in greater detail later. Gunwadi. The bungalows are located that reason, I felt it appropriate to in the Sanur district of Denpasar with­ include an article on the Red-vented Bali in a short walk to the beach. They are Cockatoo - the only white cockatoo Believe me, folks, nowhere else is secluded, secure, charming, and not the afa WATCHBIRD 5 NORTH CENTRAL NORTHERN nearly as expensive as the large hotels world. Another favorite is 'Jungle REGION C:::ALIFORNIA - an unbeatable combination. Jewels" and yet another is the Paul Robben, Director REGION And Ruess is a bird keeper of the "Southeast Asian Birds Aviary." The 316-794-2373 Barry Wold, Director first order. There are aviaries on the collection of hornbills is the best I've IOWA S30-67~ fax 530-676-7840 bungalow grounds (and a few cages ever seen and there are a variety of State coordinator: Chuck Sudds 712-642-4578 CALIFORNIA (NORTH) hoisted high into the trees -- some con­ bird shows and events. The Lodge on Mid America Cagebird Society State coordinators: taining the very rare Red-cheeked Flamingo Lake is a fine air-conditioned Midwest Parrot Qub Bob Chambers 530-343-7770 Leslie Gillis 559-674-1990 Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi which will restaurant Cit is warm and humid in KANSAS Tani Smida 805-466-8678 State coordinator: die if not kept at tree top height) as Singapore) where one can enjoy fine Mary Ellen Le Page well as a huge and very modern, com­ Mike Langerot 316-479-3235 408-997-3113 dining in a relaxed and beautiful set­ Mo-Kan Cage Bird Butte County Bird Club mercial bird farm a few miles away. I ting (and since you should spend the MINNESOTA California Avicultural Legis. Assn was lucky enough to be invited to the whole day at the park, the restaurant is State coordinator: Capitol City Bird Society Steve Estebo 612-985-5728 Central California Avian Society bird farm and really had an eye-open­ a good place for your midday break). Contra Costa Avian Society Minnnesota Companion Bird Assn. Foothill Bird Fanciers er. I'll do an entire article on it later. Again, I cannot do justice to the NEBRASKA Gold Country Aviculture Society wonders of Jurong Bird Park here - it State coordinator: Gold Country Bird Society Joni Hansen 402-496-3676 Golden Gate Avian Society To Singapore will take a full article. , Midwest Parrot Qub Monterey Bay Caged Bird Club With a short stop in Jakarta, I Redwood Empire Cage Bird Club NORTH DAKOTA Santa Clara Valley Bird Club arrived in Singapore with a three-fold Conclusion State coordinator: * mission - visit Patrick Tay, the grand This issue of Watch bird covers a SOUTH DAKOTA HAWAII old man of Singaporean aviculture very interesting area of the world - State coordinator: State coordinator: Royce King 605-393-1720 Joe Baker 808-966-6966 (he's not really old), meet Dr. Li Chieh one which bird lovers will find very Black Hills Cage Bird Qub Aloha Parrot Association Hawaii Parrot Fanciers Inc HSU, a very knowledgeable veterinari­ appealing. Of all the bird species in the WISCONSIN an who is really into birds, and to visit region, we've been able to present just State coordinator: * SOUTHERN Kenosha Exotic Bird Club the Jurong Bird Park again. a few species with our articles here. Madison Area Cage Bird Assoc. C:::ALIFORNIA Patrick Tay really' enjoys his birds Of course the Fairy Bluebird is REGION Wisconsin Bird Lovers & Exotics and has a large bird farm on the out­ among my all time favorites and you'll Wisconsin Cage Bird Club. Inc. Aletta M. Long, Director Phone/fax 562-596-7429 skirts of town. The birds are kept in enjoy the article by Cyril Laubscher NORTHWESTERN large suspended flights within several who also provided an article and pho­ REGION SAN DIEGO AREA large buildings. The farm contains an tos on the exceedingly shy but delight­ Natalie Frumin-Weiss, Dir. State coordinator: Marty Muschinske 619-468-3201 253-927-6983 fax 253-952-6983 excellent incubation and hatching com­ ful Roulroul Partridge. We have articles Finch Society of San Diego County Hookbill Hobbyists of So.