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Zitting Cisticola – nesting in rice fields

on 27th August 2016

“The Ulu Dedap regions consist of extensive, large padi fields; as far as the eye can see. I saw a number of Zitting Cisticolas (Cisticola juncidis), some nesting other males with advertising calls.

CisticolaZ-rice field [AmarSingh] 1

“The above image shows a bird with nesting material. The image below shows the context – a tiny bird amidst a sea of padi fields (below).

CisticolaZ-rice field [AmarSingh] 2

“I was worried as the padi plants are about half a meter in height and already producing flowers. Can these birds produce fledglings before the harvest? I am sure birds here have, over the years, learnt the padi planting ‘life-cycle’.

“Reading up I get varying durations from the reproduction phase (flowers) to the ripening phase (harvesting) of rice plants. The period from the start of reproduction to ripening vary between 30-60 days. Shorter in sunnier regions, the tropics (~ 30 days). These birds take 20-25 days from hatching to fledging. Hope they make it in time.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
16th December 2015

Location: Ulu Dedap, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive rice farming area with nearby rivers

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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