“Java Sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) are doing well at some sites in the city especially around limestone caves where they nest, very high up. Over the years I have seen them collect material for nesting that includes:
1. Bamboo leaves – the favourite nesting material. The like the leaves of a fine bamboo; they pluck the growing end (above, below).
2. Wilga (Geijera parviflora) leaves – an Australian willow.
3. Buffalo/Hilo Grass (Paspalum conjugatum).
4. Also seen them using long trailing grasses.
5. A colleague has seen them stealing material from myna nests.
6. Unfortunately I also saw them (proudly) collect plastic (above, below).
“On this occasion I saw two different sets of nesting birds build nests and I am fairly confident that both had helpers. One was a set of 3 adult birds that flew from their high nest together, down to collect material and then up again (saw the group do this twice). Another group working together was a set of 4 birds one of whom was a juvenile.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
26th July 2018
Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Outskirts of the city with secondary growth
