Writhed Hornbill - Male and Female, Aceros leucocephalus
Endemic to Mindanao, Camiguin and Dinagat islands

Background on the Subject and Place:
This photo was taken at the former logging concession of Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) on January 27, 2012. The remaining forest habitat in this part of the Philippines offers little or no protection for these magnificent birds. The settlers or those who have moved-in after the closure of PICOP have resorted to intensive exploitation of the remaining forest patches in recent years. The cutting of trees for timber including slash and burn agriculture certainly do not favor the hornbills which prefer nesting in cavities often associated with large mature trees. The destruction of their habitat, hunting, and trapping for the pet trade also makes them very wary of human presence.

Circumstances Behind the Photograph:
The trip to Surigao, in eastern part of Mindanao last January 2012 was marked by daily rain showers, and overcast skies which is not particularly ideal for taking photos. It was 12:18 in the afternoon at the height of a heavy downpour when I spotted a pair of Writhed Hornbills perched in the open. They are very much aware of my presence and I'm sure they will not stay long in the exposed perch. With no time to spare, I grabbed an umbrella, mounted the tripod and lens setup while keeping an eye on the pair. The umbrella can only cover the long lens and camera from the rain. When the birds finally left the tree, the camera's view finder was hazy and I was totally drenched. Note: The tree where they were perched including the entire patch of forest are no longer there a year after this photo was taken.

Message from the Photographer:
The fate of the Writhed Hornbills displayed in the photos is bleak in the hands of those who exercise control over their forest habitat. I dreaded the thought of what will become of these birds when the last of the trees are felled to the ground. This realization however, resonates an even more dreadful picture in my mind which raised the question; What will become of the people who destroy the very source of their daily sustenance? What will become of us who shared these resources however isolated and remote this place maybe from our homes?

P4231299--web.jpg