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.
5 Responses
Is this normal behaviour for such egrets? Have any other similar observations been made?
Yes, Dr Leong has documented it before (https://besgroup.org/2014/01/29/little-egret-defaecation/) and mine (https://besgroup.org/2012/04/05/water-birds-in-bishan-park/#more)
As these Egrets depend on clean waterways for their food (fish & aquatic invertebrates), they somehow have the instinct & common sense not to defile or dirty these stream/canal habitats. Unfortunately, many people are still ignorant about the biodiversity along our local waterways and continue to contribute to its degradation.
I think the Purple Heron also exhibit the same behaviour:
https://besgroup.org/2012/12/24/purple-heron-comfort-behaviour/
Neat video capture of the Purple Heron doing its business on land, rather than in the water.