Native to Java and Bali, the Javan Pied Starling is a striking bird recognized for its black-and-white plumage and bright orange eye ring. Once abundant in fields and villages, it has become critically endangered, with wild populations collapsing under pressure from trapping and habitat loss. Its voice, a mix of clear whistles and mimicry, was once part of the everyday soundscape of rural life.

The recording for this Voice Gem was captured by hand by National Geographic Explorer Ben Mirin, who has dedicated his work to preserving the sounds of threatened species. The Voice Gem preserves this rare call as a crystallized memory, transforming the fleeting sound of the starling into a lasting presence. In doing so, it highlights both the fragility of biodiversity and the enduring beauty of a voice on the edge of silence.