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Feeding Spotted Dove: 20. Intelligent feeding II

on 12th September 2011

The earlier post on intelligent feeding describes how the Spotted Doves (Streptopelia chinensis) flew to a nearby vine to then fly back to the feeder. Landing on the feeder base provided the force to shake the birdseeds out of the bottle when the level of birdseeds was below the basal ring of punctured holes LINK. This was when the feeder was placed such that its base was about a metre from the vine above. The doves then made regular flights up the vine and down to the feeder to shake the birdseeds out of the bottle.

A month later, the feeder was moved further away from the vine. Initially, when the supply of birdseeds was low, the doves continued to make the flights to the vine (above left) and back (above right), although the latter was now about 3 metres from feeder base to vine. However, after a few days of this, a dove was spotted flying off from the feeder to immediately turn round to land back on the base (below). A few of this short flights were alternated with a longer flight to the vine. At times the dove simply jumped up to land back on the base.

The shaking of the birdseeds out of the bottle allowed the Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) an opportunity to feed. These sparrows always flew in whenever a dove lands on the feeder base.

Thanks to Lena Chow who reminded me that even a point-and-shoot digital cameras can make video documentations, I tried and succeeded, although not as clear as it should be. My apologies for the poor quality video, my first try, but it shows what happened better than descriptions or even images. The background sound is noise from the ongoing roadwork. Note that the dove first flew to the vine and back. Towards the end of the video, it made two short flights, turning around and landing on the feeder base.

YC Wee
Singapore
September 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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