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Red-legged Crake taking a bath

on 21st March 2009

Dr Jeff Lim caught a pair of Red-legged Crake (Rallina fasciata) bathing at the Singapore Botanic Gardens recently and had the entire sequence on video that can be viewed HERE.

The first crake casually walked down the slope into the shallow water, dipped its bill in, scratched its head and then started to bathe. It dipped its breast into the water, fluffing its feathers and partially flapping its wings. Within a short while a second bird jumped in from a side boulder to join the first.

Both birds then enjoyed a vigorous bath, dipping their head and breast into the water, flapping their wings and splashing water all over. They even partially submerged into the water numerous times. In between, they were actively preening.

The birds were in the water for about five minutes, the second completing its bath and leaving earlier than the first. Before leaving, they vigorously flapped their wings fully a few times to remove excess water. The first bird walked casually to the water edge before flying off. The second bird flew off from the water after flapping its wings.

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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