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Oriental Pied Hornbill and Sterculia fruits

YC Wee
on 7th July 2012

“On 5th July 2012, at about 7.30 am, while walking to Changi Beach from carpark 7 (near Changi Ferry Terminal which is the launchpad to Pulau Tekong) for an intertidal survey, Neo Mei Lin (from NUS Marine Lab) and I saw (or rather almost bumped into) three Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) that flew in from a very low angle, descending to waist level before swooping up into a profusely flowering and fruiting tree near the beach.

“They then began to feed on the bright red fruit of the tree, which Teo Siyang of NUS’ Plant Systematics Laboratory identified as a Sterculia sp., possibly parviflora or macrophyllia.

“We think the tree was a cultivated specimen planted by National Parks Board and if so, would welcome the choice of more such trees in urban parks as a source of food for frugivorous birds.”

Marcus Ng
Singapore
6th July 2012

Note: An earlier post confirms that hornbills do eat the fruits of Sterculia LINK.

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

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles 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.

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