Yap Kim Fatt had a stroll along the Singapore’s Changi Boardwalk on 18th February 2012, As he passed a clump of Sea Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus), he heard a commotion within the tree. “What I saw moving within the clump was an Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris). It was hopping from branch to branch among the leaves and eyeing me suspiciously. I told myself that I should try to record this for the BESG. Here it is, my best bird effort (above)” wrote Kim Fatt.
A few days later on 24th February, Ailian Mei sighted another Oriental Pied Hornbill, this time in an Housing Board’s open area at Dawson Place. It was around 0830 hours. The hornbill was eating discarded rice thrown by someone, meant for some Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – the pigeons looking warily at the bird (left).
Yap Kim Fatt & Ailian Mei
Singapore
February 2012
Daisy Oneill
Hi KF Yap & Ailian,
Very encouraging to finally hear from seasoned readers cum newbie contributors.
Taiping lake Gardens is another place- not many places now to see similar and tourists would wow at them. Even locals would be curious and looked at the direction where I aimed by binoculars and fieldscope and sometimes, they received an invitation to look at the bird closed up showing their eye-lashes! You can see viewers eyes just sparkled- cause they never knew those eye lashes could be sooo….beautiful.
On the subject of feeding wild birds with all kinds of human processed foods, I would really discourage as much possible. I think it should begin with us-being birders and photogs, one should advocate and educate the publicnot to encourage such practice.
I have seen a compromise in Queensland especially in private wildLife Birdpark Sanctuaries- Currumbin WildLife Bird Park Sanctuary is one of them. While conserving wild birds, substantial income from tourists derives from setting aside a little corner to entertain the public with bird shows and treats for selected show birds and a bird feeding area for children and families to spend quality time together. These birds ( usually common and in large populations eg. Rainbow Lorikeets)that could be spared have been compromised and that is the way it has to be I supposed to draw the crowd and maintain the Sanctuary in pristine condition. Of course there are those in favour and those die hards who do not.
It has been decades since I last been to Jurong Bird Park and I am not too sure if the same is still being practiced. In your own backyard, Singaporeans are truely lucky to have just about one of the best well maintained Birdparks to offer in the world.
Cheers,
Daisy
John Lynn
Pied Hornbill at East Coast Park on a fruiting fig tree near where the MacDonalds use to be. It was a beauty in flight. 7 April2012
jo
Saw a beautiful Pied Hornbill flying into the trees at the bottom of 6th Avenue – just opposite Cold Storage – really stunning to see. He was quite happy sitting in the branches with all the traffic going by.