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Australian Magpie picking earthworms

on 28th June 2013

“A holiday to Victor Harbor, South Australia never fails to delight us with its abundance and variety of sea birds.

“Being novices at birdwatching and videography, we would like to share our amateurish video of the Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen telonocua).

“We were walking along the playground at Kent Reserve when we encountered two birds foraging on the ground. As we walked slowly towards the two birds, the bigger bird kept its distance from us. However, the smaller one was quite fearless and continued to mind its own business and foraged towards us. It came to within 1 m of us at the nearest. Throughout our half–hour encounter with them, the smaller bird appeared to be a juvenile in its behaviour although it was foraging independently.

“On returning to Singapore, a simple check returned the information that juveniles are more mottled in the white areas. The picture at the top captures the mottling on its white back.

“The video above captures the juvenile probing the ground damp from the recent rains. It went about it systematically. We were amazed at its ability to draw up fat juicy earthworms each time it drew its beak up from the ground. The bird seemed to assess the ground tentatively and knew whether a worm was underground. It also emitted sounds that are captured in the video.

“The second video above captures the same bird pulling a longer earthworm out from the soil and breaking it into a few fragments. It then ate the pieces one by one.”

Teo Lee Wei & K
Singapore
June 2013

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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