“On 23rd December 2012, I was having a leisurely stroll along Sumner Beach (South Island, New Zealand) when the feeding antics of Black-backed Gulls (Larus dominicanus, Maori name: Karoro) caught my eye. They were patrolling the sandy beach and keeping a keen eye out for live bivalves exposed by the waves (above).
“Whenever one was detected, the gull would extract it from the sand and fly up to a height of 20–30 metres, then let it drop straight down to the... Read More
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The Birds of Singapore – an online book
In May 1943, GC Madoc published “An Introduction to Malayan Birds.” He wrote his manuscript in Singapore’s Changi Prison where he was interned when the country fell into the...
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Videocam: A powerful tool for studying birds
1. Collecting birds: In the 19th century the equipment needed to study birds was the gun. Another skill necessary was a good stuffing technique in order to preserve the specimens....
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Documenting bird calls and songs
Many local birdwatchers are able to recognise the birds behind the songs. However, interest in most cases ends there except for a few who make basic recordings. Erik Mobrand...
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Should attempts be made to tame wild birds?
The first part of the series by aviculturist Lee Chiu San deals with whether birds can be tamed and whether they will remain tamed. The second part looks at whether it is...
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Postings your observations and images
Why should you post your observations and images? Southeast Asian birds are poorly studied in terms of behaviour and ecology. By posting your observations (and this include...
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Nature Society: The struggle for Singapore’s nature areas
The above paper has just been published. Nature in Singapore is a peer-reviewed, online journal that publishes articles on the flora and fauna (e.g., biology, botany, zoology,...
BLACK-BACKED GULL FEEDING on bivalves
“On 23rd December 2012, I was having a leisurely stroll along Sumner Beach (South Island, New Zealand) when the feeding antics of Black-backed Gulls (Larus dominicanus, Maori name: Karoro) caught my eye. They were patrolling the sandy beach and keeping a keen eye out for live bivalves exposed by the waves (above).
“Whenever one was detected, the gull would extract it from the sand and fly up to a height of 20–30 metres, then let it drop straight down to the... Read More
Common Kingfisher: Comfort and feeding behaviour
These images of the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) was taken by KM Sim on 29th December 2012 at the Japanese Garden in Jurong.
Note that the kingfisher is in its comfort mode, first scratching its head directly by raising its right foot from under its wing. This method of scratching is typical of terrestrial birds – mainly to preen its head feathers. Usually preening is done with the bill. See HERE in the case of the Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri).... Read More
Purple Heron – Comfort Behaviour
“The migratory winter visitors are back in Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park. The Little Egret, in white, is the most easily spotted among the visitors. I was looking at one in the distant through my camera viewfinder, when a Purple Heron was seen moving across the bank to higher ground in its slow and deliberate steps.
“Having spotted the heron, I moved closer to have a better view. It is the nature of herons to remain in frozen posture for long periods. However, if you... Read More
Java Sparrow – courtship behaviour
On 29th July 2012, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS came across a few Java Sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) feeding along the road when he and his wife were out cycling at around 7.30 in the morning.
They returned on the morning of 11th August and encountered four feeding on grass seeds (above).
“Then there was conflict which was not easy to understand. One adult would feed another as in courtship feeding (above and video below). And then there would be a squabble between them.... Read More
© AN ENCOUNTER WITH COMMON HILL-MYNAS Part 1
“Selected lowland primary and secondary forests and along its foothills, are possible locations to hear distinctively loud and noisy calls of Common Hill-mynas (Gracula religiosa). Malay villagers know them well for their ringing ‘tiong… tiong…’ calls known to them best as, Burong Tiong Besar.
“These birds often socialise in pairs and small communal flocks. They live mainly on high tree canopies, rarely build own nests but preferred disused nesting... Read More
Video of Eagle-owl yawning and stretching
Allan Teo contributed this video clip showing a juvenile Eagle-owl (Bubo sp.) yawning and stretching. Birds yawn to get rid of excess... Read More
Asian Koel comfort call?
“Taking a walk in the drizzle today, I heard the usual call of the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea). Looking up, I saw a pair of koels in a bare tree (above). The female koel is on the left.
“It seems strange to me why the male koel was calling so loudly (see video above), apparently to the female on another branch in the same tree just 2 m away. Birds usually have softer comfort calls. The possibility that it was calling to another bird further away... Read More
Oriental Magpie Robin – display/behaviour
“I have occasionally seen adult Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis musicus) do this display (above), more often female than male. The tail is cocked up and over the body, then the wings are spread out and the bird tilts forward and then the tilt is reversed backwards.
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
ASL1600, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
A trail along primary montane forest
14th June... Read More
Oriental Magpie Robin in comfort behaviour
The above video came from Lena Chow who caught the Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) taking a sunbath and vigorously preening itself. Note that it used its foot to scratch its head. The documentation was made on 21st August 2011 at Singapore’s Kent Ridge Park.
Then came the pesky mynas and the magpie robin ended its comfort... Read More
Bronze Mannikin drying after a bath
The Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata), another escapee munia species from Africa, was spotted by Francis Yap in the Lorong Halus Wetland in July 2011. There was a flock of at least six birds.
Scaly-breasted Munias (Lonchura punctulata) were regularly released during certain religious festivities. However, this year there was an outbreak of bird flu in the countries that traditionally supplied these birds. This probably led to a cutoff in supplies. The Bronze Mannikin... Read More
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