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A family of Little Grebes

on 13th April 2012

“Spent a delightful hour after work today observing a family of Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis) swimming around their usual pond near the recently-developed Halus wetlands. There were 3 fluffy black chicks with bright yellow bills swimming near their parents. The adult grebes were busy, swimming back & forth, diving frequently and constantly feeding the chicks. Sometimes all 3 chicks would climb on the back of a parent for a ride -such a heartwarming picture, if only my little cam had a more powerful zoom to capture that.

“Here’s a clip of the family – I was lucky enough to record their calls, a ‘shrill whinnying trill’ at the beginning of the video. I wonder why the parents then suddenly paddled off in opposite directions, leaving the slightly bewildered chicks behind, not sure of which parent to follow. After a bout of preening, one chick headed purposefully towards the left, tried to scramble up the back of the parent, but had to contend itself just being tucked under a big wing instead…”

Lena Chow
Singapore
19th March 2012

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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