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Drama in the garden as the Asian Koel appears

on 2nd March 2010

“Although I try to get opportunities to go out to watch birds, often our home is full of action and drama. Currently a number are nesting or have young in the garden – the Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier analis) have two young, the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum cruentatum) are nesting in the Tamarind tree, the Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica longicaudata) have built another nest in the Cinnamon tree and have eggs, Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis strigata) are feeding their young also in the Tamarind tree.

“In the past week I have noted three episodes of angry and frantic calls involving all the chaps above and also the Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis). Each time it is because a male or female Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus malayanus) has turned up in the Tamarind or Cinnamon tree (left top). Everyone would gang up together to shout out their displeasure and some would even try to dislodge the Asian Koels by flying at them, especially the Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica) who are very concerned about their nest (left middle, with inset showing its ruffled feathers). It is amazing to see the cooperation, a small Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) working with the fantails, the Yellow-vented Bulbuls (left bottom, showing the raised crest), etc. A surprise was the involvement of the starlings.

“Like the birds who seem to know that Asian Koels are parasitic, I have no love for them and will assist in showing displeasure. Although Asian Koels are supposed to brood parasite the Jungle Crow (Corvus levaillantii) and House Crow (Corvus splendens), in Southern Thailand and Malaysian Peninsula, Koels are stated to have shifted host from crows to mynas (Payne, RB 2005. The Cuckoos. Oxford University Press). I have seen them check out the nest of many other birds but have yet to see them use them.

“Note: I only really notice Koels in any number in my city in 1991. In the past 20 years they have been extremely common. The House Crow on the other hand has only been noticeable in the city in the past seven years and even now are not large in number in the city.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Canning Garden Home, Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
18-26th February 2010

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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