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House Swift – nesting building behaviour

on 24th June 2018

“I saw a flock of 15-18 House Swifts (Apus affinis subfurcatus) that had a shared nesting site in a limestone outcropping. Below shows five of the birds in flight.

“There were at least 6 nests, at different stages of construction, built abutting each other. This species is well known to build nests in a colony, in a communal fashion. One very incomplete nest allowed me some insight into nest building behaviour.

“Above shows one partner building the nest; this bird would stay inside the nest most of the time.

“A second bird would bring material intermittently and pass it to the first bird (above). Action is too fast for me to determine if there are any nest helpers or cooperative breeders.

“Above shows an adjacent nest that is almost complete and you can see only the tail of the bird that has come with material.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
27th May 2018

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Limestone outcroppings at outskirts of the city with secondary growth

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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