Breeding the Bali Starling for release in the wild

At the Begawan Gita Breeding and Conservation Centre in Melinggih Kelod, a dedicated team takes care of a small flock of critically endangered Bali Starlings, born and reared in the centre. From hatching to habituation, the Begawan birdkeepers make every effort to raise healthy birds to full adulthood, with the goal of one day releasing them into the wild.

A close-up of a Bali Starling, a critically endangered bird species, perched on a tree branch

A new breeding cycle begins when a Bali Starling pair lay a batch of eggs, which may take place once or twice a year. Bali Starlings lay no more than three or four eggs at a time. The eggs are tiny at 1.5 centimetres in diameter, and a bright turquoise blue.

Both parents help to incubate the eggs, keeping them warm and safe. After about 14 days, the eggs that survive the incubation period will hatch, and new Bali Starling chicks will emerge into the world. Bali Starlings are naked and blind when they hatch. Their parents must them warm and feed them continually.

In the wild, parents will take turns around the clock to bring worms and insects to the hungry mouths in the nest. In the Begawan Gita Breeding Centre, our birdkeeper prepares special food every few hours to strengthen both the parents and the chicks in the brooding period.

A photo of three Bali Starling eggs in a nest, showcasing the success of Begawan's breeding program for this critically endangered bird
A tiny Bali Starling chick being cared for by a human hand, representing hope for the conservation of this endangered species

Begawan’s birdkeeper observes the parents closely in the early days. If the parents are not  feeding or tend ingto their chicks well, our birdkeeper will rear the chicks by hand and ensure they receive proper nutrition and attention.

At around 10 days old, each chick born in the Begawan Gita Breeding Centre will receive its own ID in the form of a metal ring. These rings are slipped on at 10 days old, before the birds’ claws become too large. The ID number and parentage of each bird is recorded in our studbook, and reported to the Natural Conservation Agency of Indonesia. Begawan’s birdkeeper also places coloured bands around the birds’ legs, to differentiate between the sexes. 

A month from hatching, Bali Starlings replace their juvenile feathers with their adult plumage.

Once the Bali Starlings fledge, or grow their wing feathers for flight, they will start to fly from the nest boxes, and seek out food independently. In Begawan’s breeding centre, juvenile Bali Starlings are placed in their own enclosures once they can fly and feed themselves. These young Bali Starlings will be groomed for release, and their parents will enjoy their privacy before the next breeding season starts.

At one year old, the Bali Starling is a full adult, and ready to socialise with birds of the opposite sex.

A person's hand adding mealworms to a dish of food being prepared for Bali Starlings

Begawan’s socialisation enclosure is where male and female Bali Starlings can encounter each other, and may eventually pair up. Bali Starlings are monogamous and unless one partner dies, the birds will typically mate for life. The choice of a partner is always made by the female Bali Starling. During mating season, the males will dance for the females. If a female accepts a male’s advances, she will approach him and preen his chest. The male will then preen the female as well. 

Once they are officially a pair, the two birds will be transferred to one of nine breeding enclosures, which are screened off for privacy and to reduce outside disturbances. With any luck, the pair will have their first batch of chicks within a few months.

A spacious breeding enclosure with lush vegetation, providing a safe environment for Bali Starlings

Because there are so few Bali Starlings in the wild, Begawan only releases pairs that have proven to be productive parents. Half the flock will be kept in the centre for breeding, and half will be released in specially chosen sites.

By the time a pair is selected for release, it’s been a long journey from hatching, and both birds are usually a few years old. The pair will be relocated to a netted enclosure in the release site, for the final step: habituation. Here the Bali Starlings will be fed and cared for by Begawan’s birdkeeper, while adjusting to the environment outside the breeding centre.

After several weeks in habituation, Begawan’s
birdkeepers will select a day for the release.

A release of a Bali Starling pair is always a special day for our team at Begawan. Our birdkeeper may open a flap in the net, to allow the birds to fly freely. If the birds are anxious or unable to find the exit from the enclosure, the birdkeeper places a little food outside to entice the Bali Starlings to come out and explore. The first time the bird takes wing and flies freely in the wild is an exhilarating moment, and the result of many months of labour.

After the release date, Begawan Gita’s team will do post-release monitoring of the pair every day for a month. Not every release is successful — there are many natural predators for Bali Starlings, and they must contend with natural predators and find sources of food and water on their own. Although Begawan chooses the release site, the Bali Starlings choose their own territory where they will make their nest. If all goes well, in a short time a few small blue eggs will appear in the nest, and a new cycle will begin again.