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Hornbill Project Singapore

on 25th March 2006

The Hornbill Project Singapore is the brainchild of French naturalist, Marc Cremades of the Winged Migration fame. The ides came two years ago when he visited Pulau Ubin with long-time local birder, Prof Ng Soon Chye.

Much is known about these large and wonderful birds but relatively little is known about the breeding behaviour. We know that the female is confined inside a tree cavity during egg incubation and the development of the nestlings. During this 6-7 weeks, the male bird regularly and faithfully brings food to feed his mate and later the nestlings as well. Only when the nestlings are ready to fledge will the seal be broken. However, next to nothing is known what happens inside the sealed nest.

The project is using infrared video cameras to monitor activities inside and outside the nests. Male birds will be tagged with a miniaturised GPS to track their movements. A temperature gauge placed inside the nest will study the temperature fluctuations. A gas sampling system has also been installed in the nest cavity.

So far, five females have already been installed inside their nest cavities and at least one has laid a clutch of eggs. The project has found that as soon as the female is installed inside the nest, she sheds her rectrix and remex feathers.

Local partners of the project include National Parks Board, Jurong Bird Park, National University of Singapore, National Technological University and the BESGroup of the Nature Society (Singapore). International partners include ornithologists and scientists from France and Thailand.

As the Bird Ecology Study Group is directly involved in this hornbill project, we are monitoring sightings of these birds on mainland Singapore. Information on dates; number of birds; whether male, female or juvenile; locations and time of sightings can be sent to me at [email protected]. This information would come in useful when we plot the flight range of these hornbills.

We are grateful to the many who have sent in sightings on the Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris convexus)as well as the Great (Buceros bicornis) and Rhinoceros (B. rhinoceros) Hornbills.

Read the more detailed account of the project in the latest issue of Asian Geographic (No. 35 Issue 2/2006).

YC Wee
Singapore
25th March 2006

(Image comes from the title page of the hornbill article in Asian Geographic.)

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

9 Responses

  1. Jurong Birdpark has a large collection of hornbills. many of the species are known to have never been bred in captivity. That being the case how did the birdpark acquire these birds. One such species is the Rhinoplax vigil. Can please ask them?

  2. Wow! That pretty beftuiaul shots on the gorgeous great hornbill! It’s my favorite bird too right from the moment I saw it in Valparai. I was so gladder to check its beauty at stretched while it flies above us and chased by a bunch of crows.

  3. Hi,

    Recently I spotted a pair of oriental pied hornbills bear my workplace. Sometimes there will be 2 pairs. They might be searching for food. Lucky enough there are some good bearing trees around my workplace. Is it adviseble to feed then fruits from our local supermarket? Not sure of where the nest is. Btw my workplace is at Redhill Margaret drive.

  4. Hornbills will take fruit if they are offered a supply on a regular basis. However, I would strongly advise against feeding them in a workplace or public area. Hornbills are large birds and attract lots of attention. Sooner or later, some member of the public will do something stupid, to the detriment of both the birds and the person.
    There was an unfortunate incident at Changi where a young hornbill was hurt by people trying to restrain it for photographs. And poachers will try to grab the hornbills for sale.
    The people whom I have heard of feeding hornbills do so in private places where they have full control.

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