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Peaceful (Zebra) Dove: 3. Brooding

on 21st April 2012

“This is the third update on the nesting Peaceful (Zebra) Doves (Geopelia striata), the current observation period = 20-25/02/2012.

“We continued to watches these doves in our garden, frequently throughout the day. Both adult and juvenile birds have become very comfortable with us and allow watching from below without any signs of fear. We are allowed to watch feeding comfortably. Photography is tough from below as impaired by lots of leaves/branches.

“The links to the fist two posts are HERE and HERE.

“Disclosure: Only 6 visits have been made to the roof to photograph the birds since eggs laid (past 25 days). All have been made when parents are out of the nest and each lasted less than 60 seconds. Images were taken from above.

“The chicks in nest are shown at Day 7 (above left), 9 (above right) and 11 (below left). One chick is older than the other and days are calculated for the younger one.

“Parent breaks from nest have increased in frequency and duration this past week. We found many occasions in a day when the chicks would be left alone for 15-25 minutes while parents forage in our garden. This may be because the chicks are older (more able) as well as nutritional needs have increased, so parents have to forage more often. This behaviour may also be to encourage young to leave the nest and we are sure that fledgling is imminent.

“Parent change overs have now been definitely observed. Occasionally both parents present – one in nest feeding and the other 0.5 to 0.9 meters away (on the roof) watching intently (above right).

“The nest continues to get more loaded with droppings, with minimal waste on our patio floor below. There is no obvious strong smell from the droppings and, as my wife says, it is “clean dung”. Perhaps it may serve a function to ward of irritants, like ants (we have numerous black ants in the garden and on the roof but none near the nest).

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS & Datin Dr Lim Swee-Im
Canning Garden Home, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2012

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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