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Blue-throated Bee-eater: 9. Release

on 24th July 2009

Check out the earlier parts of the Blue-throated Bee-eaters (Merops viridis) saga: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The two bee-eaters rescued from Nest #1 were ready for release as their wing feathers were fully developed and they were regularly exercising their wings (left). As Dr JWK Cheah wrote, “They were deemed ready, when they were ‘kimono-ing’ – a term of wing spreading as observed in many species, for example Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis). They found perching ‘easier’ than standing on the ground. When exposed to sunlight, they were very excited and calling loudly – when other bee-eaters in the neighbourhood were singing.”
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YY Chong continued, “… they were brought to the site (above). They seemed very curious about the surrounding not knowing that they would be released soon. We took them out of the cage and one of them quickly flew off (below).

“…In another 10 minutes or so, the second bee-eater flew off, after perching on our fingers for some time. It was their first time flying, and we observed that they seemed to be flying slightly off a straight course, undulating up and down slightly. Just hopped off and they knew how to fly… Amazing!”

Image of the juvenile by Dr JWK Cheah, others by YY Chong.

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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