Hornbill illustration, the symbol of Sarawak, the native people, the beautiful Borneo island, the mystical forest and the haunted river.

This illustration was a taken during my stay at Imperial hotel Miri. The decoration for the coming Gawai wasn’t that impressive but I was amaze by the illustration of the Head Hunter and the Hornbills.

“Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang” or “Sarawak the land of hornbill” use to be a head hunter land. “Is that the reason why we have lot of hornbills?” “Meat eater…?” Okay no ideas about the bird, but I am very certain that I have not seen one in Kuching! Maybe due to development these birds have flown! Or it simply hard to find, maybe you have to go deep into the Borneo island to find them.

Don’t worry, I am feeling lucky and I have track this birds in Malacca! I have never seen the real life Hornbills and now I have. Beautiful isn’t it?

Rhinoceros Hornbill is protected in Malaysia under the wildlife Act 1972. These birds live on dense lowland evergreen forests, excluding swamp forests and hill dipterocarp forests. Also found up to 1,200 m. Common in primary and secondary forests. Very beautiful bird in deed!

1. Black hornbill with white abdomen and white tail with broad black band across the center.
2. Large orange bill and recurved casque distinctive.
3. Conspicuous and noisy.
4. Flying with rushing wing beats and calling with loud braying notes.
5. In captivity, lifespan of between 10 – 16.
6. Eat fruits, lizards, tree frogs, bird eggs, spiders and large insects. In zoos, the diet includes meat, fruits, eggs and day-old chicks
7. Clutch of 1 – 2 eggs. Incubation period between 37 – 46 days nestling period 78 -80 days.

I was so stupid to think that there was just one type of hornbill all the while. Read more see more, Netster!

This June is “Gawai Day” or also known as “Gawai Dayak” however Wikipedia also call it as “Dayak Never Die/DnD” sounds like James Bond. Anyway, I hope I would have time to do “ngabang” (means house visiting in Iban language) during this festive season. My friend (he a Chinese Bidayuh) should be back from Singapore but not sure if I can get few nice shot of long houses at night. Sounds like I have to over night… ermmm why I feel lazy already?

Happy Gawai to the Sea and Land warriors of Sarawak!

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