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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I have seen a small group of long-tailed parakeets feeding on a fruiting Macaranga gigantea a few years ago. It was observed from the Golf Link boardwalk not far from the Jelutong Tower in MacRitchie. Hopefully, some day, someone can capture more bird feeding frenzy of our local Mahang plants!
Our birdwatchers should show more interest in feeding frenzy in trees other than figs.
Green Macaranga fruits may seem unpromising foods for birds, but they split open to reveal 2-3 round seeds covered in a thin layer of edible material. I have analyzed this material in Macaranga tanarius – and also in the closely related Mallotus paniculatus – and in both cases it is rich (30-60%) in fat. This will provide a lot more energy than a bird can get from eating a typical fruit, where the flesh is mostly water and sugar. Birds aren’t stupid when it comes to food!
Thanks for the information and the picture.
Your Bird Feeder