Hornbills in Panaga in Brunei

Rare birds make Panaga their nesting place
Hornbills have always had a magical appeal for people. Long ago, the Iban people gave the biggest hornbills a place in religious rituals, and nowadays, tourists to Brunei or Borneo will make special and long excursions to see these impressive birds.

The pied hornbill ( Anthracoceros convexus ) is chiefly a bird of the coast and offshore islands, though it has been seen far inland. It frequents the wooded scrubby areas, i.e. secondary forest and open grassland, close to human habitation, particularly in more rural areas. It also favours the forest edges along river courses where large flocks can be seen gliding across the river.

Some ten years ago, a colony of pied hornbills took up residence in the Panaga area, near BSP's head office. These black and white hornbills are the only ones that don't mind living close to humans. The Panaga area, with its casuarina and other trees offers a suitable environment and plenty of food for more than 50 of these birds which feed on wild fruits and beetles. Panaga residents can often see hornbills 'playing' with their food by rolling berries up and down inside their long bills.

OPH by Moore, Jeremy. Google.

As all over the world more and more wildlife habitat disappears, having a colony of endangered hornbills at our doorstep is truly unique.

Some time ago, one of the Panaga hornbills even took up golf. One day, a Panaga Golf Club member teed off while a group of hornbills flew overhead. Much to his surprise, one of the birds simply caught the ball in mid-air, taking it for a tasty large grasshopper. It later realised its mistake and spat the ball out in the bushes.

Yesterday afternoon there was a lot of commotion amongst the hornbills, clumsily hopping, half flying and chasing each other amongst our trees. They destroyed both a dusky munia nest and a brown-throated sunbird nest. Both nests were built in the same fir tree and were near completion.

The nesting habits of the hornbill is equally charming. After the male and female have found the right hollow tree, the female steps inside the tree and allows herself to be cemented into the tree by her partner until the nest opening is no more than a narrow slit through which she can show her bill to receive food. For weeks, while she incubates the eggs, she depends entirely on the male for food, but is safe from monkeys and snakes. She only leaves the nest once her young have hatched and are grown strong. By then she is so weak that she can hardly fly.

In Brunei, eight species of hornbills, including the majestic rhinoceros hornbill, can be found. All of them are protected under the Brunei Wildlife Act. Some are to be found in primary forest only and are becoming increasingly endangered. They include the white-crowned hornbill and the helmeted hornbill. In coastal forests, black, wrinkled or wreathed hornbills can be seen. The latter (100cm) are usually heard before they are seen. Their heavy wing-beats produce a resonant swish above the forest.

© Panaga Natural History Society (PNHS)