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Malayan Night Heron stalking earthworms

on 12th January 2010

The Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) hunts earthworms by walking slowly. It may be able to sense the vibrations of the worm as it tunnels through the earth? Once it thinks it sees something, it would look intently at the ground for the slightest movement. Once it sees just the tip of earthworm above the ground, it would seize the earthworm by whatever little part of the body it can grab and expertly pull the wriggly fella straight out of the earth. The earthworm may be left wriggling frantically on the ground for a few seconds before it is swallowed whole, wriggling through the bird’s oesophagus!

“It is amazing how many earthworms it can catch in a short span of time. And we humans don’t even see the worm at all. Maybe the worms poke their body a little above the ground just to breathe? Or to excrete? Or to bring up dirt as it excavates?”

Tan Gim Cheong
Singapore
25th December 2009

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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