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Olive-backed Sunbird nesting in a watering pot

YC Wee
on 5th July 2016

SunbirdOB-watering pot [VTanBengKwang] 1

“The Olive-backed Sunbirds (Cinnyris jugularis) were trying to build a nest in the pine tree (Araucaria sp.) on my balcony but were not successful after two attempts. So I decided to give them a hand by installing a watering pot and put back their nesting materials inside. It worked. The female checked out her new home (above) and took up tenancy (below).

SunbirdOB-watering pot [VTanBengKwang] 2

“In due course a hungry chick appeared in the nest and needed feeding (below, adult male at the nest).

SunbirdOB-watering pot [VTanBengKwang] 3

“Both adults helped feed the chick. The adult female brought insects (below).

SunbirdOB-watering pot [VTanBengKwang] 4

“Followed by the adult male, also insects (below).

SunbirdOB-watering pot [VTanBengKwang] 5

“When the chick fledged the adult female was around to provide support (below)…

SunbirdOB-fledgling [VTanBengKwang] 6

“…even encouragement (below)…

SunbirdOB-fledgling [VTanBengKwang] 7

“…until it was confident to suddenly fly off.

SunbirdOB-ad f [VTanBengKwang] 8

“I asked mother bird for studio portrait shoot she obligingly agreed. Will give her the print when she comes back (above).”

Victor Tan Beng Kwang
Singapore
24th June 2016

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.

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

6 Responses

  3. The birds must really like him. The sunbirds that visit me everyday are somehow still wary of me even after 1 year, and refuse to nest in my balcony (though they still come daily to feed on nectar from my flowering plants), even though I have set up 2 grass nests for them in different spots. Maybe I have an evil-looking face. 🙁

    Reply

  4. Did you use a secondhand sunbird’s nest? With a long tail trailing down? Or a typical cup-shaped nest like a bulbul’s?

    Reply

  6. Last week on Wednesday, there were 2 olive backed sunbird chicks that has fledged in our neighbourhood. Everyday until last Sunday, both chicks will return to a tree outside my house to rest for the night. On Monday, only one returned to sleep on the tree. On Tuesday (yesterday), none return to rest on the tree outside my house. I really hoped nothing untoward has happen to the chicks as I have tried to look for both chicks around the neighbourhood (they have very loud chirping sound which can be heard far away) but have so far failed to locate either one of them. Anyone knows about the movement of olive backed sunbirds, whether they rest at difference places every night and how far from the initial location of the previous resting location?

    Reply

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