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Milky Stork show opportunistic feeding behaviour

on 23rd December 2013

Samson Tan was at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve last month when he encountered Milky Storks (Mycteria cinerea) showing opportunistic feeding behaviour LINK.

A Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) moved to the shallow part of the pond after catching a large fish (above). As it was about to eat the fish, a Milky Stork approached. The stork moved away with its catch (below).

Two other storks also noticed the otter with the fish and approached the latter (below).

As the storks moved closer the otter felt threatened. It let go of the fish and chased the storks away – “like a hunting dog,” according to Samson (below).

One by one the otter chased the storks away (below).

Once the storks were dispersed, the otter returned to the fish, brought it to the other side of the pond and started eating it (below).

Unable to resist the juicy morsels that the otter would leave behind while eating the fish, the storks followed but kept their distance, picking up the pieces as they went along (below).

According to Samson, “This is the first time seeing this opportunistic behavior of the Milky Storks. I’m sure the storks must have noticed that the otters will leave bits and pieces when they tear the fish to smaller bite size before consuming it.”

Samson Tan
Singapore
December 2013

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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