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An Oriental Pied Hornbill eating a bee

on 15th October 2006

On 16th July 2006 at about 10 am, Yeo Seng Beng was pleasantly surprised to see three Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) around the Binjai Park area. The three birds, two adults and a smaller juvenile, were slowly moving together from tree to tree. Armed with his camera, he followed the birds. And apparently they allowed him to get close enough for him to notice a bee between the beak of one of the birds. As Seng Beng wrote: “From one of the photos, you can see the bumble bee in it’s mouth. I could even hear how crunchy it was, as it was eating it! That’s how close the birds allowed me to approach.”

The Binjai Park and the surroundings areas have been visited more than a few times by these impressive hornbills. Their arrival would be announced by their characteristic loud calls and they would loiter around some trees along the roadside and even in someone’s garden. And without fail, their presence would result in great excitement as seldom do people see such large and impressive birds in our urban areas.

Seng Beng has also been active in persuading National Parks Board to reintroduce binjai trees (Mangifera caesia) back to Binjai Park. After all, the estate has been named after these exotic fruit trees that belong to the mango family. The area was possibly once a fruit orchard planted up with many such trees. Currently there are still a few tall and very old trees around the housing estate – within the confines of private compounds!

We wish to thank Dr Yeo Seng Beng for sharing his experience and images with us.

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

2 Responses

  1. Salut I think you are doing a nice job, it looks like you put a lot of effort into your work! Keep working hard!

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