Southern Ground Hornbill sighted in Singapore

YC Wee
on 21st October 2008

The recent posting of the Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) got a response from Steven Chong who wrote: “Spotted one roaming free some years back at West Coast Park (the carpark side with pond, next to dog run). Must have been an escapee?”

Steven was jogging then and did not have his camera with him. However, he got an image from Chan Kok Wai who saw it on the morning on 5th July 2003. The bird was on a grass patch along Rifle Range Road somewhere near PIE exit 26A, picking up insects (above left). It distinctly had a ring around its right leg (above right).

Summerian Turks commented that it might well have escaped from the Jurong BirdPark that is nearby West Coast Park and commented that it could it be “a free ranging escapee.” But then Kwok Wai saw it in Rifle Range Road. And the bird is a ground hornbill, fliing only when necessary.

Anybody else saw the escapee?

Images by Chan Kwok Wai.

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

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

Singapore Nature: 14. Accolades

6th July 2023

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