Zuhairi Yusoff flew over a thousand miles across the South China Sea and then drove for two hours to reach the mist-shrouded Mount Kinabalu on the island of Borneo, just to capture an elusive bird.
61-year-old Yusoff, armed with his trusted camera, arrived at Kinabalu National Park and finally achieved his goal of finding the magnificent black-throated green broadbill, also known as the black-throated broadbill.
Although not critically endangered, this emerald-like bird species only inhabits the mountain rainforests of Borneo, showcasing its unique fan-shaped black markings and vibrant plumage, making it a natural treasure.
Originating from Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor, Malaysia, as a healthcare executive, Yusoff embarked on this journey fueled by his passion for amateur bird photography, with the black-throated green broadbill ranking as the 259th species on his lifelong birdwatching list.
Yusoff told Epoch Times, “Capturing the black-throated green broadbill is a significant milestone for me. It marks the beginning of my international birdwatching explorations and the exhilarating moment of successfully discovering unique bird species.”
On the first morning of the trip, Yusoff and his four birdwatching companions rose early and immediately began searching for the black-throated green broadbills. In less than an hour, they spotted the birds they were looking for.
Describing the scene, Yusoff said, “The pathways in the park where we usually reside are renowned spots for observing unique highland bird species. I noticed some movements in the dense forest, and to our delight, we found two black-throated green broadbills. These birds stayed for a good 30 minutes, providing us ample time for photography.”
Yusoff shared multiple bird photos with Epoch Times, highlighting the broadbills’ “striking black crown feathers” and “intricately detailed plumage,” making them a sought-after subject for photographers.
Discussing the characteristics of the black-throated green broadbills, their plumage patterns also exhibit gender differences. The male birds have more prominent feather clusters on their foreheads, while the females lack the black markings on their heads and ear coverts. The larger size of the males, reaching up to 27 centimeters (10 inches) in length, provides excellent material for photography with their lush wings.
The black-throated green broadbills echo through the forest with their unique intermittent call, even when unseen, their distinctive calls remain clear. Their calls can range from “squeak-squeak-squeak” to sharp metallic “clicks!” followed by piercing cackles.
Though their calls may be heard, seeing these birds is not guaranteed. Their green plumage blends seamlessly with the deep forest, and even their nests are concealed. Constructed with dry bamboo leaves and covered with fresh green moss and hanging moss ends, their nests blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. During the breeding season from March to June, these nests may hold one to two pale yellow bird eggs after a few days of mating.
To capture these elusive birds, Yusoff optimized his camera’s exposure by manually controlling shutter speed and aperture to cope with the low-light conditions in the forest. He used a Nikon Coolpix P1000 camera paired with a powerful Nikon 600mm lens.
Yusoff shared, “A deep understanding of the photographic medium allows me to tell more compelling stories and create artistic images. I strive to capture unique moments in bird photography, like birds in flight with beautifully blurred backgrounds, interesting bird behaviors, or dramatic lighting effects.”
Yusoff admitted that his refined photography skills are the result of years of dedication and practice. His photographic journey began in 2021, starting with shooting on his smartphone. Upon seeing professional wildlife photography online, which captured the sparkle in animals’ eyes or the perfect composition of birds in flight, he was deeply moved and inspired to enhance his skills. Over the years, he continuously upgraded his equipment, first mastering the exposure triangle and then learning visual storytelling.
Eventually, Yusoff mastered macro lens techniques, revealing the microscopic world that is imperceptible to the naked eye. With his expertise, his macro photography captures the shimmering eye clusters of tiny insects and spiders.
After falling in love with capturing birds, Yusoff began traveling the world to capture various bird species, but he confessed that Malaysia is his spiritual home and primary photography target. He captured the image of the rufous-backed kingfisher at the Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest and tracked the Bornean green magpie in Sabah, Borneo. Sometimes, during a single trip, he managed to photograph multiple bird species. Once, while visiting the same park, he even photographed three broadbill species simultaneously – the striped, black, and red broadbills.
Yusoff disclosed, “My ultimate goal is to expand bird photography beyond Malaysia, which is why I have created an international bucket list. In the next two to three years, I hope to visit several countries known for their unique and rare bird species.”
Having just returned from the Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest trip in August, Yusoff is planning to visit the Taman Negara Sungai Relau National Park on the Malay Peninsula.
He explained, “I received information that there is a special tree there that attracts various local bird species to gather. The focus of this trip is on species diversity, and it is said that this tree can attract small birds like flowerpeckers and sunbirds.”
If you wish to read the original news, it was published in the English version of the Epoch Times.