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©FRUITY RAMBUTAN & BLUE-CROWNED HANGING-PARROT

on 21st January 2012

“Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) – a sweet, succulent, seasonal fruit of the tropics is currently in season. When ripen, their soft, spiky, thick skins turn red/yellow pending their species. The variety of red species is the commercial favourites amongst locals and of export quality. Suspended in bunches, these fruits attract a host of mixed frugivores eating species- mammals, insects including different species of birds.

“My visitation to a private fruit orchard in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia provided interesting fruit eating observation of a Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot (Loriculus galgulus) partake of his lunch at 12.15pm.

“With mandibles like can opener, this small (12-14.5cm) male of an expert nut cracker seemed to peel off the rambutan’s skin with ease (above).

“Through my Fieldscope, I was able to observe this so colourful male relishing the fleshy white succulence of the fruit (below left).

“The whole feasting period took one whole minute before the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot flew off. Even the skins were not wasted (above right).

“Another visitor was waiting patiently in queue.

“Who could it be but the… next colourful post coming up!”

Avian Writer Daisy O’Neill
Penang, Malaysia
4th January 2012
Optics used: Fieldscope ED82+30x+ Digital camera P3.
Copyright Article & Images: Copy courtesy of Daisy O’Neill Bird Conservation Fund

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 tank is far to small for a parrot fish or a tang (what I’m asuimsng you means by those blue fishes A clownfish would be fine. How many fish you can keep depends on the fish, marine tanks have much lower stocking capacities than freshwater tanks. However honestly if you don’t even know the names of the fish you want to keep you don’t know near enough to even attempt a saltwater tank.

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