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Mangrove Pitta breeding: 4. Food for hatchings

on 9th April 2010

Check out the earlier postings: 1: Who’s who, 2: Predators and 3: Vigilance and parenting.

“During window period of breeding, hatchings were continually fed by parental pair of Mangrove Pittas (Pitta Megarhyncha) Mighty and Mindy through executing desperate and countless, low flying sorties from hunting sites to nesting grounds.

“Duration of time between each feeds was approximately ten minutes per trip. While each took turns, between food freighting and sentry duties, there were times when they happened to arrive at the same time.

“But… such moments were few and far in between (left)

“There were also short periods when chicks were left on their own.

“It was also observed that under normal circumstances, parents developed a kind of regular flight paths. The tarmac acted like an airport runway cum staging area where they headed straight in and landed without flapping their wings. Having executed anti-predatory behaviors and when felt safe, would they make a dash for the awaiting hungry chicks.

“Not much food data has been written in available field guide books apart from the mention of small crabs (above), worm and mollusk. Ants were observed being collected on the car-park tarmac while a snack of a small caterpillar hidden under fallen leaf did not escape unnoticed.

“The above image (left) shows a morsel-to-be of a frog species. Three non–identified foods collected (above, centre and right) are waiting for contributing readers to put a name to them.

“Having seen the input, how about the output?

“Part 5 and finale will try and show how pitta chicks’ waste disposal done a polite way.”
.
AVIAN WRITER DAISY O’NEILL PENANG MALAYSIA
©Mangrove Pitta breeding 4.

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

4 Responses

  1. Looks like the food varies and they seemed have different nutrients that is probably essential for the young one’s. Just wondering when will those food like crab and mollusk is good for your tummy of the babies..

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