“On 11th January 2013, I visited the tip of Farewell Spit, South Island, New Zealand to admire a colony of Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator, Maori name: Takapu) established on a sandy and windy location (above).
“There was heavy air traffic at this site, as birds frequently landed and took off, just like a busy international airport (above).
“Within this colony, a number of bonded pairs were already prominent. Whenever one partner returns to reunite... 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,...
AUSTRALASIAN GANNET COLONY
“On 11th January 2013, I visited the tip of Farewell Spit, South Island, New Zealand to admire a colony of Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator, Maori name: Takapu) established on a sandy and windy location (above).
“There was heavy air traffic at this site, as birds frequently landed and took off, just like a busy international airport (above).
“Within this colony, a number of bonded pairs were already prominent. Whenever one partner returns to reunite... Read More
© Mist-Netting –One Full Circle
“Mist-netting was first invented by the Japanese in the 16th Century – their purpose was mainly to catch birds for food.
“The West eventually caught on this style of catching birds in the 1920’s – but for a different reason. Bat biologists and ornithologists began to use this method for the sole purpose to supplement visual and auditory observations in their scientific field studies. (Please refer websites on ‘Mist-netting’ for more... Read More
Black-naped Oriole Collects Nesting Material from Epipremnum pinnatum
“I was reversing my car out of a parking lot this morning when I noticed a Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) flew into a Swiss Cheese Plant in front of me. I was not sure if it was Monstera deliciosa or another species in the same genus as the leaves did not have the usual holes from which the common name was derived.
[Angie Ng identified the plant as Epipremnum pinnatum or in Chinese known as Dragon’s Tail Plant “Loong Mei Chow”, a medicinal plant, native.... Read More
Lesser Whistling-ducklings all in a row
The above image by Lena Chow shows an adult Lesser Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna javanica) leading a brood of 12 ducklings with another adult supervising along the side of the neat row. First posted in her Facebook LINK it attracted some interesting comments.
Liling Tan believes that the brood consists of two families and not a very productive one as stated by Lena. According to literature, the normal clutch size is 7-12 eggs for these ducks. Referring to this LINK, Lena... Read More
Paddyfield Pipit’s territorial display
“The above composite shows the territorial display of the Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus malayensis). I have seen this a number of times but not documented it on camera. It flies to quite a height (hard to estimate but more than 25 meters), calling like a Lark, flying briefly horizontally before plummeting to the ground with wings partially closed. The dive down is silent.
[The image on the left shows the Paddyfield Pipit calling.]
“A detailed description of... Read More
RED-BILLED GULL BREEDING COLONY
“On 28th December 2012, a breeding colony of Red-billed Gulls (Larus scopulinus) was encountered along steep, chalky cliffs at Shag Point, South Island, New Zealand (above).
“The dedicated parents were looking after their well grown chicks (above). Each gull family unit had either one or two chicks, no more. Perhaps there was an instruction by a higher authority that ‘two is enough’ LINK.”
Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
17th February... Read More
Myna Having a Free Cool Drink
“..we are not alone in looking for a cool drink on a hot day. I was on my motorbike that day, stationary at a traffic light when I observed a myna dashed under a taxi that just stopped as it left the pickup up point of a shopping mall.
“I was wondering what kind of live animal or insect might have gone under the car and the bird seemingly intend on chasing a meal to the extent of ignoring traffic.
“In approximately 10 seconds, my question was answered.... Read More
Happy Valentine’s Day
Lena Chow sent in the above image and the video clip below of a pair of Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) to wish readers a Happy Valentine’s Day.
According to folklore, birds choose their mates on February 14th. And to the Chinese of old, doves represent faithfulness, filial piety and longevity. So doves have always been used as symbols of Valentine’s Day. And rightly, so should pigeons, as both belong to the family Columbidae.
Have a Happy Valentine’s... Read More
Raptor Calendar 2013
Note:
“Recently the Thai Raptor Group produced a magnificent calendar on raptors (birds of prey). Chaiyan (Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathology, Kasetsart University, Thailand) was kind enough to make a digital version of the 2013 Calendar available for download: HERE.
“…I decided to do a similar calender… The calendar attached is obviously inspired by the great work of the Thai Raptor group. It is often said said that ‘imitation is the... Read More
Grey-chinned Minivet at Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
“Minivets are always a delight to watch and reasonably friendly.
“A small group (4-5) of minivets were foraging on caterpillars with a solitary Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni westermanni) joining them.
“ID not always the easiest but the elevation supports the Grey-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris montanus) even though the adult male face was rather dark (top and above). The females also had some orange on the rump but could just be... Read More
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