“Ushering in the Lunar New Year would have been incomplete without a glimpse of a live rooster, especially if it was roaming wild and free. And so I decided to visit an old haunt where there was a good chance of spotting at least one hanging out around the undergrowth. Eventually, a male Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) in prime plumage rose to the occasion as he emerged from the bushes (below).
“With his head held high and swollen with pride, he escorted his family, including a plump hen and five adorable chicks, as they foraged for food (below).
“Then all of a sudden, he cocked his head to one side, dashed off and dived into the bushes. A few chicks followed after father, but the others appeared stunned by this abrupt response.
“A video clip of the Junglefowls may be previewed above.
“Wondering what could have evoked such a frantic fleeing of the rooster, I looked up and realised that the arrival of an Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) was the cause for alarm (above, below).
“A video clip of the honey-buzzard may be previewed here:
“Although this may have been a false alarm for the family, it was an excellent rehearsal and valuable learning lesson for the chicks, who need to be aware of raptors and their predatory potential.”
Dr. Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
2nd February 2017s
