An Oriental Honey-buzzard entangled in a tree

on 28th January 2011

On the evening of 21st January 2011, Richard Lim was at Pasir Ris, Singapore when he noticed an Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) moving from tree to tree. The raptor was flying from the lower branch of a tree to another when it suddenly flew smack into some branches and got its wings entangled. It was badly stuck among the branches and faced the possibility of losing some feathers, if not damaging a wing. It stayed stuck for about 3 minutes, when, with a violent shake, managed to get loose.

“Wondered why it was flying so low in the first place,” wrote Richard.
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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

One Response

  1. I think that Oriental Honey Buzzards are looking for bee hives when they fly around the branches of trees. I have observed this on occasion and been amazed at how low such a big bird will fly in order to get in under overhanging branches and to get a good look at every bit of a tree. I am not surprised at the occasional mishap, but glad this bird got away okay. I have often wondered how many bee larvae they need per day to sustain them and how many Oriental Honey Buzzards can be supported by the bee population of Singapore.

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