The Legend of the Oriental Pied Hornbill

In southern China’s forests, the endangered wreathed hornbill faces shrinking nesting options, from treetop hollows to low cavities—and even limestone caves. A small team of Chinese and Thai scientists have spent years following the hornbill’s movements, documenting their remarkable adaptability and revealing how hornbill’s raise their young across diverse habitats. Through artificial nest boxes, habitat restoration, and cross-border collaboration, the film captures both the secret life of these birds and the scientists’ efforts to help this charismatic Asian species survive and thrive.