Samson Tan visited Thailand’s Huai Kha Kheang Wildlife Sanctuary in March 2012 and encountered a family of four Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush (Garrulax monileger) basking in the sun (above left). Suddenly a monitor lizard appeared on the scene (above right). The first thing the adults did was to get their young to safety before taking turns mobbing the lizard for the next few minutes (below left). And even after the lizard moved away the family was cautious (above right).
The adults then got the young to move to a high branch before they went to forage (below). Returning with food, the adults started feeding the young (bottom).
The lesson from this episode? “Even the tamest bird can be very aggressive and will not hesitate to protect its chick during nesting period,” wrote Samson. “ So, when you are ‘harassed’ by birds, you might have stepped into their comfort zone of the nesting area. If that happens, just back off and leave the bird alone.”
Samson Tan
Singapore
May 2012
