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Rescue of the juvenile Red-wattled Lapwing

on 26th May 2018

“I initially had a poor morning bird watching as I had decided to re-explore old haunts in the city that had good findings in the past. As expected, mal-development, with the insatiable need for housing, had damaged many locations. Housing today are ‘heat traps’ with the extensive use of cement, tar and pavement so that there are almost no green gardens or fringes.

Adult in dense undergrowth were other chicks were.

“I came across a pair of Red-wattled Lapwings (Vanellus indicus atronuchalis) that were resident at one site – a large location with open secondary growth, muddy ponds and dense undergrowth. Surprisingly the pair were already calling out before I got near. The calls were not the classical “did-he-do-it” in response to an intruder. I watched from some distance and then recognised that they had chicks and that one was in trouble. The undergrowth at the site was dense so the chicks ‘on land’ could not be seen (above).

Valiant (juvenile) with parents in drain on sand bank.

“However the adults were concerned and calling out because one of the chicks had fallen into a large drain. I watched from the car as they made many attempts to encourage the juvenile with calls and direction to get out (above). I was impressed with the determination and swimming abilities of the juvenile, hence the name ‘Valiant’ (below). The water in the drain was at least 10-15 cm in some sections; fortunately there were ‘sand banks’ and vegetation to help the young one.

Valiant (juvenile) swimming with parents guiding it (composite of 2 images taken one after the other).

“I was planning to leave them to it and not interfere. But when I returned 20 minutes later they appeared to have given up and the young one was possibly tired. The height of the drain did not really allow for an escape. I managed to make my way to the location and despite my proximity, one adult that had stayed with the chick, did not leave until the last moment, giving loud alarm calls – again different from classical concern calls and the first time I have heard these.

Valiant the juvenile Red-wattled Lapwing (no further images were taken, once rescued, to minimise trauma).

“I had difficulty locating the chick due to the excellent camouflage (above). It looked exhausted and hypothermic. I took a few quick images and hoisted the young chap out of the drain onto a dry patch of land. I left immediately so as to minimise trauma. I watched from a distance as one parent came to rescue the young one while the other continued to belay me with the “did-he-do-it”.
I look forward to Valiant continuing the progeny of Red-wattled Lapwing at this site, barring the invasion of man.

“A video (using car as hide) of some of the parental rescue attempts and calls is given above.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
29th April 2018

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary on the fringe of the city

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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