Hunting strategies of two raptors

on 7th August 2008

“I have witnessed successful hunting of fish by two of our local eagles – the White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) (below left) at Jurong Lake and the Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) (below right) at East Coast.

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“I noticed that while the White-bellied Sea Eagle has a rather gentle approach to catch its prey, the Brahminy Kite closed its wings and dived down to its prey. I was wondering whether they are the result of different conditions (gentle lake versus choppy sea) or different strategies for survival adopted by the two different eagles.

“I also noticed that they hunted when it was cooler i.e. when the sun is hidden by the clouds or when the storm clouds gather.

Myron Tay
July 2008

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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