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Red-whiskered Bulbuls return to roost… but not for long

on 10th September 2018

In November 2017, the Australian Bush-cherry (Syzygium myrtifolium Dark Red) trees that grew along the fence separating two of my neighbours’ houses were trimmed LINK. This in turn discouraged the Red-whiskered Bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus) from roosting on the branches of these trees.

Red-whiskered Bulbuls gathering on a rooftop.

Now, less than a year later, the crowns of these trees have become dense to provide protection to roosting birds. So the Red-whiskered Bulbuls have returned. Every evenings and early mornings, the harsh noises of passing cars and trucks are a little more tolerable with the pleasant chirpings of the bulbuls.

Red-whiskered Bulbuls gathering on a rooftop TV antenna.

Every evenings, the Red-whiskered Bulbuls gather on any available high points, be they on the roofs of houses or a TV antenna.

Red-whiskered Bulbuls gathering in their roosting trees.

They also fly in to rest on the branches of nearby roadside trees, to interact with other bulbuls before flying into the their roosting trees. There, they jostle around to claim the best positions to spend the night. Slowly, the noise from these bulbuls quieten down until dusk when silence prevail.

This is not a purely Red-whiskered Bulbul roost. A few Yellow-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier) were seen roosting together.

A Yellow-vented Bulbul joining up with the Red-whiskered Bulbuls to roost in these trees.

Come morning, these bulbuls contribute to the dawn chorus as they prepare to fly off to forage.

Unfortunately, a few days later the trees were heavily trimmed by a team of workers (see video above) such that the bulbuls did not return that evening – maybe many months later when new branches regrow to provide shade and shelter to the roosting birds.

YC Wee
Singapore
10th August 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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