“There are lots of matured trees and flowering plants in my condominium, providing many feeding opportunities for the garden birds thriving around here. Though I go round on a daily basis, I seldom have the luck to witness in close range the feeding behaviours of birds.
“On the afternoon of 8 Apr 2011, I was alerted to the incessant begging calls of some juvenile Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis) that I had the fortune of observing their begging behaviour in close proximity (above).
“A flock of the AGS numbering about six was seen in a clump of Sealing Wax Palm (Cyrtostachys renda).
“According to a geomancy web site, the deep red colour of the leaf sheaves symbolises luck. No wonder so many of these palms were planted in homes with their own private gardens.
“Two juveniles were seen with their wide open bills begging to be fed by their parent, even though the ripe fruits were all around them. Another two juveniles, more matured, were feeding on their own. One got chased away by the adult when it ventured too close to the latter.
“A video of the feeding session can be viewed above.”
Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
18th April 2011
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