Little Egret – More Foot Tapping

on 23rd February 2011

“Not content with my earlier attempt at taking video clips of the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) foot-tapping behaviour with my compact camera, I decided to try documenting this with my DSLR instead.

“On the evening of 16th February 2011 (ca. 6:15 pm), the tide was receding along the Telok Kurau canal and I zoomed in on the solitary Little Egret, which was rather engrossed, even determined, to flush out fish with vigorous foot-tapping.

“While taking the video clip, it succeeded in striking and swallowing at least one tiny fish. I could not help but realise how much effort the Little Egret invested, just to obtain a mere morsel. Whereas we humans (in Singapore, at least) have an immense variety of food at our doorsteps, yet much still goes to waste each day.”

Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
17th February 2011

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

One Response

  1. The bird does seem determined, and really focused on one area for quite a while. I don’t know if that is their typical habit (to move so little), but it seems like I’m used to seeing them move around from one section to another more. Perhaps this bird had seen the fishes and knew they were there hiding, so was persisting in trying to catch them.

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