• The Birds of Singapore – an online book

    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...
  • Videocam: A powerful tool for studying birds

    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....
  • Documenting bird calls and songs

    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...
  • Should attempts be made to tame wild birds?

    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...
  • Postings your observations and images

    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...
  • Nature Society: The struggle for Singapore’s nature areas

    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,...

Stork-billed Kingfisher – Stealing or Feeding?

in Feeding-vertebrates, Kingfishers  on Jun 08, 13 No Comments »
“The Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) is an uncommon resident of Singapore (above, adult). This species is usually solitary, but a pair can sometimes be encountered. There used to be a pair that could be spotted at Pasir Ris Park. Recently, to the delight of park visitors, birders and photographers, this pair had multiplied to form a family of four. “From around mid April to early May 2013, this family of four kingfishers could be spotted on the... Read More

Eastern Cattle Egret Eating A Frog

in Feeding-vertebrates, Heron-Egret-Bittern, Videography  on Mar 25, 13 No Comments »
Eastern Cattle Egret Eating A Frog “A common winter visitor and passage migrant in Singapore, the Cattle Egret [now known as Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus)] is often found in open fields where they forage for food. “I found a pair of Eastern Cattle Egrets foraging by a canal in late February 2013. One was still completely white in its winter dress, while the other had shades of orange-buff on its head, neck and back (above). As I was observing them, the bird that was assuming breeding... Read More

BLACK SHAG FEEDING ON EEL

in Feeding-vertebrates  on Mar 20, 13 No Comments »
BLACK SHAG FEEDING ON EEL “The Black Shag (Phalacrocorax carbo, Maori name: Kawau-tua-whenua) is a native resident throughout New Zealand, but also occurs in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia (Lindsey & Morris, 2000). An example from Picton, South Island is pictured here (above). “While exploring the Travis Wetlands (South Island) on 23rd December 2012, I was startled when a Black Shag suddenly rushed out from the waters onto the shore with an elongated prey in its... Read More

Laughing Kookaburra casting pellet?

in Feeding-vertebrates, Pellets, Videography  on Feb 25, 13 No Comments »
Lena Chow’s video clip of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) was documented in Perth last year. The kookaburra had just swallowed a lizard. “Not sure if it’s having a problem getting the lizard down, or pellet casting, but it looked slightly uncomfortable. Interesting to see it swinging its head as if bashing an imaginary lizard on the branch,” wrote Lena. Kingfishers normally cast pellets after meals and kookaburras are no different. Any... Read More

Birds feeding on rats in the rice fields of Ulu Dedap, Perak, Malaysia

in Feeding-vertebrates, Heron-Egret-Bittern, Interspecific, Intraspecific, Raptors  on Feb 06, 13 1 Comment »
Birds feeding on rats in the rice fields of Ulu Dedap, Perak, Malaysia Ulu Dedap in the Malaysian state of Perak is an extensive rice farming area about 90 minutes drive from where Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS lives. “I have often seen birds use human activities to aid in their foraging. On three occasions this morning [24th January 2013] I saw larger groups of raptors, herons, egrets (once in excess of 200) forage around tractors that were clearing fields that had been harvested (above). The birds were after the many rats that were killed [or... Read More

Diet and feeding behaviour of the Long-tailed Shrike

in Feeding strategy, Feeding-invertebrates, Feeding-vertebrates  on Jan 28, 13 2 Comments »
Diet and feeding behaviour of the Long-tailed Shrike The Long-tailed Shrike is an opportunist feeder. It takes insects like grasshoppers, crickets and beetles, lizards, frogs, small birds and small mammals. It is a fearless hunter, taking most of its prey on the ground. It has a reputation of impaling some of its victims on a sharp spine or broken branch HERE and HERE. Connie Khoo Siew Yoong, during her observations on Long-tailed Shrikes nesting in a suburban location in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, documented instances of the... Read More

Common Kingfisher: Comfort and feeding behaviour

in Comfort behaviour, Feeding strategy, Feeding-vertebrates, Kingfishers  on Jan 17, 13 1 Comment »
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

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON – DIVERSITY OF FISH PREY

in Feeding-vertebrates, Heron-Egret-Bittern  on Dec 19, 12 1 Comment »
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON – DIVERSITY OF FISH PREY “After numerous nights of monitoring the Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) along the canal near my home, a summary of its fish prey reveals that it consumes at least seven species, all of which are adapted to estuarine/tidal conditions. Apart from the catfish and rabbitfish previously reported, other fish species include: Green Mollies (Poecilia sphenops) (above), Crescent Perch (Terapon jarbua) (above), Mullet (family Mugilidae) (above), Green... Read More

A sparrowhawk’s kill

in Feeding-vertebrates, Interspecific  on Dec 07, 12 1 Comment »
A sparrowhawk's kill “I was driving along a wooded path in Changi Cove when we flushed a sparrowhawk from a bush beside the path. It kind of exploded out of the bush in front of us. On seeing this I suspected that it must be feeding on a recent kill. True enough on clearing the bush there laid a dead Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) with it’s feathers plucked and left all over ground. It is good that we have a lot of bulbuls to feed raptors like sparrowhawks, while bigger... Read More

Seven kingfishers…

in Feeding strategy, Feeding-invertebrates, Feeding-vertebrates, Kingfishers  on Dec 02, 12 1 Comment »
Seven kingfishers... Kingfishers are fascinating birds. Their colourful plumage and behaviour never fail to attract the attention of wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, like the Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) above. Sometimes you may be attracted to the loud territorial cries of a male kingfisher but most times they can be seen quietly perching on a branch overhanging water, patiently waiting for prey, usually fish, to appear. Once a fish is sighted, the bird plunges down into... Read More
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