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Nesting Black-shouldered Kite

on 25th January 2012

“I ended up in Jing-Yi Tou’s backyard (bird watching area) as he called to say there were more than 40 Black Bazas (Aviceda leuphotes). By the time I arrived they had left but we spotted some Black-shouldered Kites (Elanus caeruleus vociferus) that were resident there. In my experience over the past 30-40 years, these kites have gradually diminished in number, possibly due to chemical use in Oil Palm plantations. Used to be very common at Oil Palm estates.

“We were fortunate to watch some nest building … nest building activities, most of which was watched at quite some distance. Tou had to go after a while and I stayed for 1.5 hours. Saw at least five nest building events (above: composite of arrival at nest with nesting material).

“The nest is in an old but sturdy Mango tree (Mangifera indica) in the midst of open scrub land backed some distance away by an Oil Palm plantation. My estimate places it at 8 meters up the tree.

“[Above is] a composite of the nesting pair close to ground – one adult drooped to the ground and then went to the partner. Not sure if anything offered due to distance (did not see in images).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Bercham Interior, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
30th January 2011

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.

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