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Starling and bulbul feeding on Macaranga sp.

on 1st February 2010

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS was at the fringe of Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia on 17th November 2009. He encountered a flock of Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis strigata) in a feeding frenzy at this fruiting Macaranga sp. tree. The only other bird feeding here were the Olive-winged Bulbul (Pycnonotus plumosus plumosus).

Earlier posts detail M. bancana and M. heynei as also favourite bird trees.

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

5 Responses

  1. 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!

  2. 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!

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