On 6th March 2010, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS was tipped by a colleague that a female Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis ornatus) was building a nest in an urban home in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Olive-backed Sunbirds are known to build their nests in a variety of locations, some using urban/housing structures while others around potted plants placed along the verandah of urban homes including high-rise apartments. What was unusual in this case was that the nest was built around a hanging light bulb found on the upper balcony of the double story home.
The bulb was clearly visible through the scanty nesting material on the upper part of the nest, as the egg chamber was found on the opposite side of the structure.
Exactly one week later, the nest showed not much change except for the classic stabiliser at the end of the nest. The nest was most probably completed as the female was inside.
Amar’s hope was that no one turn on the light.
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