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CHINESE POND HERONS – BREEDING PLUMAGE, FEEDING & PANTING

on 6th May 2011

“Between late March to mid-April 2011, I found myself becoming increasingly enamoured by a small flock of migratory Chinese Pond Herons (Ardeola bacchus) that had chosen an open grassy field as their feeding ground. Initially, both winter (non-breeding) and summer (breeding) plumages could be seen simultaneously in different individuals (above). These different plumages have been well described and illustrated (Lekagul & Round, 1991: Plate 5; Robson, 2000: Plate 52).

With each passing day, it was interesting to monitor how certain individuals progressively ‘metamorphosed’ into their characteristic breeding plumage, with chestnut feathers appearing on its head, neck and breast, while black feathers began to cascade from its back (above). Later on, I noticed that certain striking individuals even exhibited black feathers along its neck and breast (right).

“At this site, there was a total of between eight to ten individuals. Oftentimes, they would be feeding

gregariously (above), but were also confident in feeding as individuals. The pond herons demonstrated a voracious appetite and hunted for long periods from dawn till dusk. Their diet consisted of a broad spectrum of creatures, including frogs, lizards, earthworms, grasshoppers, crickets. On one occasion, I actually witnessed one pond heron stalk, chase and pluck a dragonfly from the air, much to my amusement. Please see video clips below for examples of their feeding behaviour (on earthworms):

(Chinese Pond Heron – Feeding 1)

(Chinese Pond Heron – Feeding 2)

“One afternoon, while observing the pond herons, I was startled by the annoying and incessant barking of a stray dog close by. My immediate concern was for the safety of the pond herons, but these birds were apparently unperturbed by the presence of this canine creature (left). Perhaps the birds may be aware of the old adage that ‘barking dogs never bite’!

“On certain afternoons, temperatures could soar under a cloudless sky. To deal with the heat and keep themselves cool, some pond herons resorted to panting, where fluttering motions could be seen in their necks as their beaks were slightly parted. Please see video clip below for an example of its panting behaviour:

(Chinese Pond Heron – Panting)

“When I visited this site on the 22 April 2011 (Good Friday), there were just two to three pond herons remaining. By the 25 April 2011, none were to be seen, as they must have all headed northwards to reach their breeding grounds in time and ensure the continuity of their species. Chinese Pond Herons typically breed between March and May (Robson, 2000).”

Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
27th April 2011

REFERENCES
1
. Lekagul, B. & P. D. Round, 1991. A Guide to the Birds of Thailand. Saha Karn Bhaet Co., Ltd., Bangkok. 457 pp.
2. Robson, C., 2000. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, London. 504 pp.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am grateful to Subaraj Rajathurai for enlightening discussions and kindly sharing his personal encounters and in-depth experience of pond herons in Singapore and the region.

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

4 Responses

    1. Yes, indeed, and I hope that the grassy fields will be preserved and protected for as long as possible. The frequency of grass-cutting in this site should also be reduced. Let’s hope that the Chinese Pond Herons will continue to utilise this site for many more years to come.

  1. There are chances that some of the non-breeding plumage are Javans or even Indians (not sure if there are any authentically wild ones in Singapore yet or not, but I had managed to find one in my garden at Ipoh this season)

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