“Pictures paint a thousand words and so… they must be for this pair of breeding Grey-rumped Treeswifts (Hemiprocne longipennis) (below left).
“Another cliff-hanger style nest that sat shallow on a horizontal durian tree (Durio zibethinus) branch, no less than 26 metres above an orchard in mid-April 2011.
“Only three species are indicated in the family of Hemiprocne with only two species found mainly flying under the tropical skies of Peninsula Malaysia. On flight, they are recognised by their long, sickle-like wings. When perched, their wings crossed over and extending beyond their tails (above right).
“The following images of the Grey-rumped Treeswifts show a well bonded and endearing pair, including one with closed eye contact actively participating in nest building. The male with rufous cheek patch is sitting over the nest on the left (below).
“The use of white, fluffy floss materials from seed pods – perhaps from the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) – were used to line the nest. They look a bit like their own downy feathers.
“Are nest making of some bird species known to pluck their own feathers for use should suitable home making material found to be lacking (above)?
“These images are also few opportunities in the ever useful digiscopy technique to be able to photograph birds at great distance and in height, showing a rare glimpse of their forked tails (left).
Avian Writer Daisy O’Neill
Optics Used: Fieldscope ED82 +30x+Camera P3
Copyright Article and all images:
Courtesy of Daisy O’Neill Bird Conservation Fund
