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Tanimbar Corella eating sea almond and leucaena

on 30th January 2010

“The Tanimbar Corella (Cacatua goffini) has been previously documented eating the pong pong fruits, pods of the golden shower and starfruit seeds.

“On 16 Jan 2010, at Pasir Ris Park, a flock of Tanimbar Corellas was seen feasting on fallen sea almond (Terminalia catappa) fruits from the ground and seeds from the ripened pods of leucaena or petai jawa (Leucaena leucocephalia) a large shrub that is about 5 metres tall.

“The birds arrived in a flock, announcing their arrival with some loud screeching as they swooped down into the canopy of trees. Although Tanimbar Corellas have been seen in the area, there were usually two or three birds. A family of three Tanimbar Corellas was likely residing in the area. On this occasion, there were about ten birds, an unusually large flock.

“Initially, all the birds were in the trees foraging from branch to branch, sometimes screeching. After scrutinising the area, two birds swooped down onto the ground. Their crests were perked up as they walked on the ground, searching and picking up fruits of the sea almond from the ground with their claws (left). As the fruits looked weathered, they must have fallen from the trees and left lying on the ground for some time. Soon, the other birds were also seen swooping down. Similarly, they picked up fruits with their claws and were using their formidable beaks to crack them into halves to get at the seed inside.

“The sequence of images showed one of the birds using its strong hooked beaks with sharp ends cracking open a hard fruit (above left). Its tongue was then used to tuck the brightly-coloured seed into its mouth (above right). Nature is full of wonder: certain food is designed for only selected species with specialised tool (in this case the bird’s beak, which was shaped to crack nuts). Only these selected species, using their specialised tools could harvest such food. It is interesting and bewildering how the corellas could have knowledge about the edible seed that is hidden in the core and protected by the hard outer shell of the fruit.

“After a short feast of the sea almond fruits on the ground, the birds flew back en masse into the trees. Some birds were then seen clutching ripened pods from the petai jawa, which was growing wild nearby (above). Their claws and beaks were used to split the ripened pods before the seeds could be reached and eaten. To reach its choice pods, one of the birds was even seen clinging upside down as it reached for its chosen pod to feed on its seeds. Perhaps, the bird was showing off its capability of eating in this acrobatic stance.”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
21st January 2010

Note: One of the many reasons why this exotic corella is successful in Singapore is that it has found its food niche. All the recorded fruits it relishes are generally not eaten by other birds.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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