Search

Chattering Lory feeding on fern spores

on 11th November 2018
Photo: Gan Cheong Weei

A Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus) was documented by Gan Cheong Weei scraping the sori off the frond (=leaf) of the Rabbit’s-foot Fern (Davellia denticulate) to get at the spores (above).

Photo: YC Wee.

Sori (singular: sorus) are clusters of spore sacs (sporangia) containing microscopic spores. They come in different shapes and sizes. The image above shows the sori of the Rabbit’s-foot Fern.

Photo: YC Wee.

The spores, contained within the spore sacs, are ejected into the air when mature, to be swept away by the breeze. The above image, from another fern species, show 7 spore sace that had burst, scattering the many spores inside. When the spores land on a damp spot some distance away, they germinate to eventually give rise to young fern plants. So, spores are equivalent to seeds in flowering plants.

The three video clips (above, below) show the lory scraping the fern sori to get at the spore sacs containing the spores.

According to Wikipedia, fern spores are rich in protein and fats. Some vertebrates like bats eat them. Certain moths also eat the spores LINK.

Appreciate feedback from anyone with information on birds eating fern spores.

Gan Cheong Weei
Singapore
4th November 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.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. From my experience with many pet Chattering Lories, these gung-ho birds will sample anything to test out if it is edible. And if it is, they will eat it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1168
15522
Visitors Today
51730410
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)