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Nesting of the Savanna Nightjar

on 25th April 2009

Ng Kiah Hwa a.k.a. hawkeyes photographed the Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) nesting in Malaysia in March 2009.

There were two eggs in the simple scrape of a nest, one of which had hatched (left). The parents were nowhere to be seen. It soon rained and that brought an adult back to the nest to shelter the chick and the remaining egg (below).

Savanna Nightjar nests in treeless areas, such as grassland, grassy plain and open woodland. The nest is a simple scrape on the ground, often among stones. One to two eggs are laid, spotted and blotched and highly camouflaged. Both parents incubate the eggs. When threatened, the incubating/brooding adult pretends to be injured as a distraction tactic. Chicks are nidicolous, meaning that they remain in the nest for some time after hatching. Nothing else is known.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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