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.
2 Responses
I rescued a baby sotted ring neck dove eight months ago. I am still feeding it with a syringe as it refuses to feed itself. I tried leaving it to fend for itself for a couple of days with plenty of seed. But all it would do is angrily scoop the seed out of the dish. I have tried all types of seed to no avail.
I want to release it into the wild but not until I am sure it can feed itself.
Can anybody advise me soon as I am about to go into hospital for major surgery and nobody I know wants the responsibility of caring for the bird.
Many thanks. Selina
This refusal to feed by themselves happens with parrots and mynahs too. Aviculturalists know that these species, which are very commonly kept as pets, often insist on being hand fed long after they would have been weaned in nature. Some bird keepers encourage this behavior, which they think is endearing.
Sorry to say, but like spoilt children, there is not much you can do except take tough action. Despite the bird wanting to scatter seed, you have to be firm. Cut down your syringe feeding to half the normal amount. And leave a good spread of seeds on the cage floor (which should be flat, without a wire grille over it) Birds tend to take seed more readily when it on the cage floor, not presented in a bowl.
The baby won’t starve to death if you continue to provide supplementary syringe feeding. But it should become hungry enough to learn to feed itself.