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Nesting of the Pink-necked Green-pigeon

on 28th March 2018
Male incubating eggs.

“In late February 2018, a pair of Pink-necked Green-pigeons (Treron vernans) started building their nest in the Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum) roadside tree right in front of my house in Serangoon Gardens. They took turns sitting in the nest for about 2 weeks till the eggs hatched. The shells were found under the tree on 15th March.

Female incubating eggs.

“The parent birds continued to take turns baby-sitting. The father bird was seen much more frequently sitting over the nest. Finally, after another 1-2 days, the babies, with eyes still closed, became active. Each had a distinct white spot at the tip of its beak, the egg tooth that helps the baby bird to make a hole in the egg shell from inside the egg. The baby bird then splits the egg shell and emerges,

Egg shell found at base of tree.

“Again, it was the vividly coloured father bird who was seen in the mornings, snuggling the young. Sometimes the babies were left alone in the nest, sleeping or moving around. The parents would be seen high up on a neighbouring yellow-flowered acacia tree.

Male brooding chicks.

“By 22nd March the babies’ eyes were fully opened. Father bird was seen fussing around them, regurgitating food for the fast-growing juveniles. The parent’s sometimes half-closed eyes evoked doting and loving expressions!

Male feeding chicks.

“Within just 2 days, curly, white wiry feathers began to give way to adult black, grey, yellow and green feathers.

“By 24th March, they were almost half the size of the parents, but still snuggling under the breast, sides and tail of the parent. The siblings could be seen facing one another, bobbing up and down, swinging their heads from side to side. The oldest of the two chicks was flapping its wings vigorously (see videos above, below).

“It was about time for the older of the siblings to fledge, and fledge it did (below).

“The fledgling ended in my neighbour’s driveway, too weak to fly. The adult was around, calling. Later the fledgling managed to fly to the nearby tree to join the father bird.”

Joyce S. Y. Tan
Singapore
24 March 2018

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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