“I made a mental pact with Heinrich Kuhl that I would revisit Cibodas Botanical Gardens (1200m.asl) for a better view of White-flanked Sunbird (Aethopyga eximia), also known as Kuhl’s Sunbird in his memory.
“This I did in early March 2013 and hoped to retrace my steps to the Red Powder puff (Calliandra haematocephala) flowering bushes that I last saw a pair of those birds in August 2012.
“I decided it has to be at least a one night stay inside the Gardens to do... 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,...
© Kuhl’s Sunbird Singing in the Rain
“I made a mental pact with Heinrich Kuhl that I would revisit Cibodas Botanical Gardens (1200m.asl) for a better view of White-flanked Sunbird (Aethopyga eximia), also known as Kuhl’s Sunbird in his memory.
“This I did in early March 2013 and hoped to retrace my steps to the Red Powder puff (Calliandra haematocephala) flowering bushes that I last saw a pair of those birds in August 2012.
“I decided it has to be at least a one night stay inside the Gardens to do... Read More
Copper-throated Sunbird nest-building
“The female Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostetha) is commonly seen at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve during nest-building season, busy harvesting and ferrying nesting material to her nest (above). This one made at least a dozen trips to a Funnel-web/Tent Spider’s (Beccari’s Tent Spider? LINK web during the 15mins I was watching her, tugging at the web to pull off small bits which she transported to her nearby nest 10m away.
“On the left is... Read More
Poikilospermum suaveolens and birds
Goh Juanhui was at the Jelutong Tower in Central Catchment Reserve in May 2013 where he was attracted by a flowering epiphytic climber, Poikilospermum suaveolens (Family: Urticaceae). This appears to be the period when this plant is in flowers.
There were many birds attracted to the flowers because of their nectar – bulbuls, Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) (above), Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), and in particular the Greater Green Leafbird... Read More
Plain Sunbird – feeding behaviour
“Over the years, I have observed the Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex) feeding on a variety of foods:
1. The small black fruit/seeds of the Blue Mahang (Macaranga heynei) – their favourite.
2. Fruit of the Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana)
3. Animal prey including spiders
“Wells (2007) states “No confirmation of this behaviour (nectar feeding) seems to exist for the review area.”
“Today was able to better document them actually feeding on nectar.... Read More
Female Olive-backed Sunbird Sips Nectar – In Slow Motion
“The swimming pool and play ground area in my condo have many flowering plants. These offer plenty of opportunities to observe sunbirds which come to enjoy the nectar. The edited video shows a female Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) sips nectar of the Heliconia psittacorum ‘Lady Di’. This is one of the most popular Heliconia cultivars in Singapore.
“The video clip was recorded on 8th Jan 2013 with the 100 fps high speed feature of my new... Read More
Brown-throated Sunbird takes nectar from Melaleuca cajuputi
Johnny Wee’s image of the Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) taking nectar from the tee tree or gelam (Melaleuca cajuputi) was taken in July 2013 at Singapore’s Pasir Ris Park. This tree is common in Malaysia, growing in swampy areas near the coast. It is a popular roadside and garden tree. The bark is whitish-grey, papery and flaky, thus its other common name, paper-bark tree. The flowers are small, in terminal bunches and with numerous, fluffy... Read More
Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds – adult male feeding young
‘I am posting the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis singalensis) family of 4 (2 adults and two juveniles, the normal configuration) that … were foraging together with an adult male Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex).
“Sometimes all of nature conspires, with the confiding nature of my favourite sunbird and a sprinkling of God’s magic to give you observations and images that take your breath away. At these times any camera and lens will do. ... Read More
Brown-throated Sunbird Visits Male Papaya Blooms
“Discarded papaya seeds (Carica papaya) strewn by humans or dispersed by birds do grow well and easily under favourable conditions in the tropics.
“The germinated seed decides if the fruit tree is to be fruit bearing – being female. A male plant photographed here has only showers of long stemmed blooms to show that will eventually wilt (left).
“To the disappointment of homemakers who hope for fruits, such fruitless plant considered to be... Read More
Brown-Throated Sunbird Visit Pulasan Tree for mistletoe flowers
“A bird-survey in a traditional Malay village that grows various home plants, fruit trees and flowers, do yield surprisingly some interesting sightings. One tropical and exotic fruit in particular that I encountered, rekindled memories of family-youth days. A fruit lesser known in those days that I naively thought came from mountains of the wild.
“I came across a ‘Wild Rambutan’ fruit tree grown beside a kampong house. For the benefit of city dwellers and... Read More
Mating display and call of the Crimson Sunbird
“The above video clip shows the mating display and call of a male Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja). He was trying to attract a female on a branch below him :
“The sunbird’s back feathers are fluffed out showing yellow down feathers not normally seen. The mating song was a continuous sweet shrill twittering that went on for at least 2 minutes. Too bad about the noise from the nearby construction site drowning out the mating song, know of anyone who can... Read More
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