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Green Imperial-pigeon: Another nesting record

on 4th September 2015

“After a pair of Green Imperial-pigeons (Ducula aenea) was found nesting last year LINK, I had a hunch that they would nest there again. An urge to revisit the site has been delayed many times. In July 2015, I finally made my way to revisit the site and was blessed to find another nesting on the same tree (above).

“Initially two adults could be seen on an adjacent tree and indulging in preening activities (above).

“From the photos captured, a close look at the eye shows an obvious white eyering. Not that obvious, a red ‘eyering’ appears to be inside the circumference of the white eyering (above). It was only when it closed its eye during preening that the red ‘eyering’ revealed otherwise (below). It had transformed into a straight line in the middle of the eye. The red “eyering” is actually the edges of its eyelids.

“After half an hour of waiting, one of the adults flew into the tree with the nest and perched just below the nest. The elusive nestling, which I had struggled to spot for the past half hour finally made an appearance when it was seen just outside the nest to check out the adult (below). I had time for only two shots of this nestling as it went back into the nest with the adult following.

“The nestling remained hidden in the nest after more than an hour of waiting.

“There was consolation when one of the adults flew to the fruiting MacArthur Palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii) that were not too far away for feeding. Note the different appearance of the green metallic sheen on the same individual’s back: dull when not under sunlight (above) and brilliant when under direct sunlight (below).”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
27th August 2015

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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