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Oriental Pied Hornbills in urban Singapore

on 1st June 2012

On 31st May 2912, Dawn Kua spotted an Oriental Pied Hornbill at Singapore’s Braddell Road (above). “I’m very new to birdwatching in Singapore… and so I wasn’t sure if sightings were of interest to the BESGroup. From what I’ve read up, the Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) are still relatively rare on the island so I thought this might be of some interest,” wrote Dawn.

The Oriental Pied Hornbills were once a rare sight in Singapore. Not any more. These large and magnificent birds are becoming more and more common in our highrise housing estates, in various urban areas and even in Orchard Road. The public is always thrilled to encounter such a rare bird and invariably will make contact with the Bird Ecology Study Group to report their sightings.

Singapore’s Garden City Campaign saw the planting of thousands of wayside trees followed by fruit trees in gardens, parks and even the wayside. These provide food for the hornbills, like the various palms, guava (Psidium guajava) and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), among others.

The Hornbill Project LINK, now in its seventh year, also plays an important role in encouraging the return of hornbills to the main island.

Dawn Kua
Singapore
May 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.

Other posts by YC Wee

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