Spotted Dove – egg

posted in: birds, Nesting-failed | 0

During this Covid 19 lockdown period we had noticed a pair of Pink-necked Green Pigeons building a nest in the garden; I observed the male a number of times bringing nesting material to the female. It was a precarious location chosen, an abutment of 3 shrubs/trees (one being a Curry Leaf Tree Murraya koenigii), and we were concerned with success. We had have been having a series of rain storms. As expect they abandoned the nest after one of these strong storms.

Much of the nest was intact and we were surprised to find a pair of Spotted Doves (Stigmatopelia chinensis tigrina) occupying it a few days later. They were soon incubating the eggs. Sadly more violent rain storms damaged the nest further and they lost both eggs and the nest. My wife found one egg cracked but intact on the ground below the nest.

The intact egg was glossy white (discoloured in the image), elliptical and measured 26.0mm by 21.0mm (see images above). Measurements in Wells 1999 of 2 local eggs was 26.4-27.2 by 21.1-22.5. Data from Birds of the World (2020) was more variable in size (range 25–35mm by 19–23mm) but could reflect the different geographical locations.

 

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr) – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Urban environment

Date: 6th May 2020

Equipment: Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8G VR IF-ED

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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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