Daniel M. Villavieja was at the Changi Village Boardwalk on the morning of 12th September 2009 when two Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris) flew above him, to be followed by another three.
The hornbills settled in the trees nearby. Three of them flew to the nearby telecom tower were eight to nine Tanimbar Corellas (Cacatua goffini) were gathered. This frightened a few that flew off but the rest remained, all above the hornbills.
When one of the hornbills moved up the cable they were perching on, a corella moved down to challenge the intruder. There was a noisy confrontation – no actual contact, only threatening postures, flapping of wings and moving forward, then backwards (above and below).
The corella then returned to the top of the tower leaving the hornbill below. Another corella moved down and strangely shared a fruit with the hornbill.
Eventually the three hornbills inched their way up but by then all the corellas decided to leave. And after five minutes or so looking around, the hornbills flew to the nearby tree to join the others.
All images by Daniel M. Villavieja.
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