On the night of 22nd October 2010, a migratory Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) ended up in a ship at anchorage near Bedok, Singapore. It found comfort in a small potted plant placed on top of a TV set (above). There it rested. The bird probably got disorientated by the thick haze from forest fires in Indonesia, the worst in four years.
According to Opel Mok, the bee-eater looked a little dazed and allowed itself to be handled (left). But it was not injured.
Blue-tailed bee-eaters are common passage migrants and winter visitors to Singapore. They arrive in great numbers towards the end of September.
Opel Mok
Singapore
October 2010
2+
5 Responses
Tou Jing Yi
They may be merely exhausted, and is fed and recovered, should be able to continue on their journey.
John Lee
I found a Blue Tailed Bee Eater by the roadside near my place yesterday evening. It couldn’t fly and was a bit confused. So I put a towel over it and took it home. Attempts to contact the wildlife dept. and the vets have failed as it is the weekend. I have caught some bees, flies for it but it is not feeding. I have even given it some small live frys but it doesn’t seem to be wanting to eat or drink. Concern that it may have a bad wing fracture or possibly concussed and there was a heavy rain prior to me finding it. Could anyone advise?
YC
It is not easy to care for a young bee-eater – not sure how young yours is. But try feeding it mealworms rather than bees. Check out this link… http://besgroup.talfrynature.com/2009/07/22/blue-throated-bee-eater-8-excavating-two-further-nests/#more and the related series.
John Lee
Hi YC
Thanks for your reply. It looks like a full grown adult. Unfortunately, it didn’t make it through Sunday. I was hoping to deliver it to the local Wildlife Dept today.
Haniman
Out of curiosity John, were you refering to the Malaysian Wildlife Dept?