Maratua Island Survey Report

Febry Riyad Hendiyanto

Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark

Background
Maratua Island is one of the small inhabited islands in the north coast of East Kalimantan
with a land area of 384.36 km2. Maratua Island which is part of the Maratua District, Berau
Regency, East Kalimantan Province, has a part of history in world ornithology. It began with
expeditions in the early 20th century by H. C. Raven and E. P. Mjöberg (Bangs & Peters 1927;
Riley 1930). The two original expeditions encountered 24 bird species in Maratua. Research
related to avifauna diversity in Maratua was continued by Phillipps & Phillipps (2014) in 2009,
2010 and 2011 which found as many as 33 bird species on the island. Due to the isolation of the
island, some bird populations in Maratua are phenotypically different from those in Kalimantan.
These distinct taxa were described as separate species after their discovery (Bangs & Peters,
1927; Riley, 1930), but most are currently classified as subspecies of the more widespread
polytypic species: among others, the Black-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus atriceps hodiernus), the
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus stricklandii barbouri), and the Black-naped Monarch
(Hypothymis azurea aeria) (Clements et al. 2017). However, a survey conducted by Burner et
al. (2018), did not record one typical species, namely the White-rumped Shama (C.s. barbouri)
or better known as the Maratua Shama which may have become extinct in the wild or still
exists in very small populations. Based on this data, we, Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark
(PCBA) in collaboration with the Yayasan Konservasi Nusantara (YKAN) conducted a survey
with the aim of obtaining the latest data regarding avifauna diversity on the island of Maratua. In
addition, the specific objective of this survey was to obtain up-to-date data relating to the C.s.
barbouri population which is critically endangered by the caged bird trade.
Materials and Methods
Our field team consists of three people including one PCBA representative, one YKAN
representative and one local Maratua resident. We departed from Tanjungredeb Pier to
Maratua Island using a speedboat. Data collection was carried out on May 21 – 28, 2022. Bird
observations were carried out by dividing Maratua Island by village, namely Teluk Alulu, Teluk
Harapan, Payung-payung and Bohesilian villages (Figure 1). Observations were made from
06.00 am until the afternoon at 17.30 pm by tracing the Maratua axis road and forest trails that
could be passed.
 Figure 1. Map of Maratua Island survey location (made by YKAN)

Results and Discussion

In general, Maratua Island has a very good avifauna habitat. Large and tall trees persist
in all parts of the island and the mangrove ecosystem on the outside of the island is also
observed to be in good condition (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Habitat conditions on Maratua island, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Based on the survey results, we found a total of 33 bird species on the island of Maratua
(Table 1). Of these, 23 are resident species, seven are waterbirds and raptors and three are
migratory species. In addition, we also found five species including new records for Maratua
 Island, namely the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), the Green Imperial-pigeon
(Ducula aenea), the Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus), the Purple-throated Sunbird
(Leptocoma sperata) and the Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus). The Eurasian Tree Sparrow
is a species with a very wide distribution in the world, including Indonesia, perhaps previous
records missed this species in the species list. According to Chua et al. (2015), there are three
endemic taxa that inhabit Maratua Island, including the Black-headed Bulbul (Brachypodius
atriceps hodiernus), the Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea aeria), and the
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus stricklandii barbouri).

Table 1. List of bird species recorded on the island of Maratua, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Burner
Early Philipps Survey
English Name Scientific Name et al.
1900's 2009-11 2022
2016
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus ✔ ✔ ✔
White-bellied Sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster ✔ ✔
Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ✔ ✔
Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus ✔ ✔ ✔
Mossy-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis ✔ ✔
Pacific Reef-egret Egretta sacra ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Striated Heron Butorides striata ✔ ✔ ✔
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ✔
Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana ✔
Little Egret Egretta garzetta ✔ ✔
White-breasted
Woodswallow
Artamus leucorynchus ✔
Pied Triller Lalage nigra ✔ ✔ ✔
Black-naped Fruit-dove Ptilinopus melanospilus ✔ ✔ ✔
Grey Imperial pigeon Ducula pickeringii ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Grey-capped Emerald
Dove
Chalcophaps indica ✔ ✔ ✔
Pink-necked
Green-pigeon
Treron vernans ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Green Imperial-pigeon Ducula aenea ✔
Metallic Pigeon Columba vitiensis ✔
Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica ✔ ✔
Pied Imperial-pigeon Ducula bicolor ✔ ✔ ✔
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel ✔ ✔ ✔
House Swallow Hirundo tahitica ✔
Tabon Scrubfowl Megapodius cumingii ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Gray-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta ✔
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki ✔
Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina ✔
Siberian Blue Robin Larvivora cyane ✔
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus ✔ ✔ ✔*

continued…

Burner
Early Philipps Survey
English Name Scientific Name et al.
1900's 2009-11 2022
2016
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja ✔
Plain-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Copper-throated Sunbird Leptocoma calcostetha ✔ ✔ ✔
Maroon-bellied Sunbird Leptocoma brasiliana ✔ ✔
Purple-throated sunbird Leptocoma sperata ✔
Rainbow bee-eater Merops ornatus ✔
Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala cinerea ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Osprey Pandion haliaetus ✔ ✔ ✔
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus ✔
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis ✔
Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus lucionensis ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Black-headed Bulbul Brachypodius atriceps ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Pied stilt Himantopus
leucocephalus ✔
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos ✔ ✔ ✔
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus ✔ ✔ ✔
Northern Boobook Ninox japonica ✔
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Totals 48 24 33 25 33
Noted:
*recorded in a cage

The Black-headed Bulbul we encountered was quite common and easy to spot in
Maratua. Unlike the Black-headed Bulbul on the mainland of Borneo, this species in Maratua
has a dark gray morph or tends to be black. We also observed quite a lot of young individuals
and several times when the parents were feeding the chicks (Figure 3). This could be a mark of
the breeding season for this endemic taxon on the Maratua Island. Another endemic taxon, the
Black-naped Monarch, is also widely distributed on the island. This resident species is often
found in small groups of up to 4 individuals.
 Figure 3. The Black-headed Bulbul (Brachypodius atriceps hodiernus) feeding the chicks

While we were surveying in Teluk Alulu, we met a local resident and we asked about
the Maratua Shama. We were shown two individuals of Maratua Shama in his collection, one
individual is an adult male he has cared for for a long time and one is a juvenile. One juvenile
Maratua Shama he obtained one week before we came to the island (Figure 4). In addition to
that, at the same time and place, he also obtained another individual of White-rumped Shama.

We estimate that the other White-rumped Shama is an individual who was entering
adulthood, but the crown was not white and on the outer rectrices there are white feathers
underneath (Figure 5). Judging from its characteristics, we suspect that it is not a genetically
pure Maratua Shama. This specimen is very interesting as it potentially indicates that there has
been an introduction of other Shama taxa to Maratua Island. Should that be the case genetic
integrity of the remaining Maratua Shamas might be even more imperiled than previously
feared. This certainly has to be the subject of further investigation.
 Figure 5. Comparison of outer retrices between (a) juvenile of Maratua Shama and (b) an individual of
White-rumped Shama (subspecies not confirmed)

The next day, we conducted a survey on the location where the said local resident of
Teluk Alulu obtained the Maratua Shama. It is located in the Bohesilian forest. We went to the
location by sea, crossing from Alulu Bay to Bohesilian because the access by land to the
location is very difficult and we had to pass through a karst hill which local residents call mount
Batu Putih (Figure 6). We observed several points that the local resident thought was the ones
where he had encountered and had obtained the Maratua Shama. During those two days we
surveyed in the Bohesilian forest, we only heard a vague song that was quite distant which we
believed to be the Maratua Shama. In addition, due to the rainy weather and limited
equipment, we could not take any sound recordings or photos.
Figure 6. (a) The view of the white rock mountain from the direction of Teluk Alulu, (b) The typical terrain
in Maratua Island

In other locations such as Teluk Alulu, Teluk Harapan and Payung-payung, we did not
find any signs of the presence of the Maratua Shama populations such as in Bohesilian. We
believe that Bohesilian is the only point that still holds a very small population of Maratua
Shama that is left on Maratua Island. A very serious threat faced by the Maratua Shama today is
the increasingly rampant cage bird trade. Because of its extraordinary singing ability, the
Maratua Shama is one of the prima donna species in the world of songbird trade in Indonesia
and maybe even in Southeast Asia (Leupen et al. 2018).

Conclusion
Our avifauna survey on Maratua Island provided at least a species list and an updated
records and it ensures that the bird population on Maratua Island is currently richer. In this
survey, we have not been able to obtain the latest documentations on the endemic taxon of
Maratua Shama, but based on our search through the local resident who found juvenile
Maratua Shama individuals, it can be concluded that the reproduction of this taxon in nature
still occurs and it is not completely extinct in nature. This survey emphasizes the need for
further programs to find populations of this endemic taxon in the wild and to reduce the
number of caged birds trade in Indonesia.

References
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