On Saturday March 7, 2009 Biologist Guide Ron Leidich tracked and photographed a pair of Palauan Ground Doves on Ulong Island. The Doves were casually foraging amongst the leaf leader and approached to within 20 feet. Using a new Cannon 100-400mm lens, Ron was able to get some excellent photographs of these normally elusive birds.

In October of 2008 while leading a WWF Micronesia tour a group of snorkelers were drifting along a current swept channel on the remote island of Pohnpei. A high concentration of plankton had attracted hordes of small fishes, which in tern had caught the attention of giant Manta Rays. The 12 wide filter feeding Rays began barrel rolling through the dense concentrations of plankton. The snorkelers were treated to close up looks at the majestic rays as they rolled and swept just below the surface.

In June of 2008, while leading a WWF Malaysian Borneo Tour, Biologist Ron Leidich followed a commotion in the forest and stumbled across a bachelor herd of Bornean Pygmy Elephants. Standing over 8 feet tall the pygmy elephant is still a formidable beast. Ron and a trusting group of adventurers stalked within 25 feet of this reclusive forest pachyderm. Annoyed at the intrusion the young bull began flapping his ears which was a recognizable sign that it was time to go. Following the jungle track back to a waiting canoe, Ron and the WWF devotees slipped back onto the Kinabatangan River for more adventures.

After years of chasing birds around the rock islands in search of the perfect photo, Paddling Palau founder Ron Leidich has created new Endemic Bird tours. Designed specifically for Birding Life listers these private charters take adventurous naturalists into the heart of Palau's Endemic Bird Habitats. For more info please see our Bird Tours and Bird Life sections of the website.