Java, Upwards (Days 1 and 2)
I've dreamed of visiting Indonesia since I was very young, spending hours reading about the history, geography, and, yes, wildlife. I'd wanted to visit for the birds even before I was a proper birder- my first introduction to the country was hearing my uncle's stories about visiting the country in search of rare parrots. I never imagined I'd be visiting Java first however- I'd pictured it as a densely populated island with little room left over for natural areas. It certainly is densely populated (the world's most populous island!), and it definitely has problems with wildlife, mostly due to the Javanese affinity for keeping birds in cages. However, as I began becoming more connected on social media with the world birding community, I began seeing more and more friends of mine visiting Java and coming away with some impressive bird finds. As it turns out, Java is host to a tantalizing array of endemic fauna, including many rare and declining endemic birds. A...