Mad as a Marine Biologist

High-res rhamphotheca: Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) … also known as Great Indian Hornbill or Great Pied Hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family (95–120 cm (38–47 in) long, with a 152 cm (60 in) wingspan and a weight of 2.15–4 kg (4.7-8.8 lbs)).Great Hornbills are found in the forests of Nepal, India, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, Indonesia. Their impressive size and colour have made them important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The Great Hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity. They are predominantly frugivorous although they are opportunists and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds… (read more: Wikipedia)   (picture: Kalyanvarma)  The first time I came across one of these, I didn’t see it. I heard it through the canopy of a patch of rainforest in Langkawi, Malaysia. Not it’s call mind, but the air displaced by it’s wings. Wikipedia says “The sound produced has been likened to the puffing of a steam locomotive starting up.” The thought that pierced through the cloud of excitement as we strained fruitlessly to see through the canopy was “That is what pterodactyls must sound like”. We saw it later atop a tree. It was humongous.

rhamphotheca:

Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)

… also known as Great Indian Hornbill or Great Pied Hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family (95–120 cm (38–47 in) long, with a 152 cm (60 in) wingspan and a weight of 2.15–4 kg (4.7-8.8 lbs)).Great Hornbills are found in the forests of Nepal, India, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, Indonesia. Their impressive size and colour have made them important in many tribal cultures and rituals. The Great Hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity. They are predominantly frugivorous although they are opportunists and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds…

(read more: Wikipedia)   (picture: Kalyanvarma)

 The first time I came across one of these, I didn’t see it. I heard it through the canopy of a patch of rainforest in Langkawi, Malaysia. Not it’s call mind, but the air displaced by it’s wings.

Wikipedia says “The sound produced has been likened to the puffing of a steam locomotive starting up.”

The thought that pierced through the cloud of excitement as we strained fruitlessly to see through the canopy was “That is what pterodactyls must sound like”.

We saw it later atop a tree. It was humongous.

Notes

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    The first time I came across...these, I didn’t see it. I heard it through
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