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Interesting behaviour of Black-crowned Night Heron in Hong Kong

on 8th August 2011

“Recently, I spent 2 weeks in Hong Kong Island. I observed a flock of 6 Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) station regularly in the Public Pier of North Point, Hong Kong Island. It is a crowded place with heavy human traffic, bus terminal and cross-harbour ferry. Everyday, there are 10 -20 guys doing shore fishing nearby.

“The Night Heron would arrive about 8 am and station till 6 pm just before dark on the pillar of the overhead bridge to keep a distance from human being but yet just 20–30 ft away.

“They stood there about 15 ft above water and jumped into the water to catch the small fish. It is contra to what we usually see other herons standing in the shadow water and picking up the prey from the bottom of the seabed (above).

“Furthermore, these herons usually keep the fish in the bill, turning it so that the tail faces outwards before swallowing. However, this night heron put the fish on the ground first, flipped it over and over before swallowing (above).

“It is believed that the night heron has settled down nearby as there is a juvenile bird following them everyday.”

William Ip
Singapore
August 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.

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