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Cats, dogs, squirrels and Javan Mynas

on 6th November 2006

My neighbour’s cat has been roaming my garden for some weeks now, typical with most cats. It is rather tame and allows me to carry it. Many times the cat lies quietly in wait for some unsuspecting bird. I have even saw it stalking a myna on the ground. But so far the cat has not managed to catch any birds, or so it seems. I have yet to find the remains of any bird on the ground.

The Javan Mynas (Acridotheres javanicus) are trying their best to outwit the cat. They have ganged up to sound the alarm of harsh and loud calls whenever the cat is around. The birds will hover around just within harm’s way, following the cat, making their alarm calls all along until the latter is gone.

Recently I was alerted to the loud calls of the plantain squirrel or common red-bellied squirrel (Callosciurus notatus singapurensis) sitting on a branch of my artocarpus tree. Each time it called, its long bushy tail was flicked upwards. This went on for about five minutes. Then I noticed the presence of the cat in the garden. Apparently squirrels also make alarm calls when they spot a cat prowling around. I wonder whether they make such calls when a dog is around.

Over at my neighbour’s house in front of mine, the little dog there has been harassed by these same mynas on and off. A group of mynas will take turns diving at the dog, always missing by centimeters. Intentionally? Anyway this scares the dog that usually scamper to safety every time. This can go on for about half an hour. I am not sure whether the birds are doing this for fun or can it be that a pair of birds is nesting nearby?

Dr Chang Li Lian told me that her dog is so scared of these mynas that flock to the latter’s feeding bowl that it moves under the cover of the garden plants to reach its food.

Input and images by YC.

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. “I am not sure whether the birds are doing this for fun or can it be that a pair of birds is nesting nearby?”

    That sounds exactly like nesting behaviour in many species of birds, yes.

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