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Nesting Building Initiation by Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata

on 7th August 2022
Image 1: The female Whiskered Treeswift had a feather in its beak. Kledang Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. 4 August 2022. 

Whiskered Treeswifts Hemiprocne comata are common forest birds, often seen at the open edges or trails. I have observed nesting in the past but not the initial first step in nest building. On 4th August 2022 at the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, I had an opportunity to observe nesting building initiation.

Earlier in the same day, I had spotted a female Whiskered Treeswift that had occupied a branch for a considerable amount of time with intermittent foraging. As I was watching birds in that area, I kept an occasional eye on the bird.

At 9.15am the bird flew off the perch and landed on the bare branch of another tree. It had a feather in its beak (see image 1). It then proceeded to consider that branch as a potential nesting location (see image 2). I continued watching as it brought the feather to the branch a number of times but there was no nest building. It then flew back to the original branch that I had seen it on. I wondered if my observations, at 8-9 meters, could have hindered nest building.

Image 2: The female considering this branch as a potential nesting location. Kledang Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. 4 August 2022.

It then began nest building at the original perching or ‘support-branch’ site. The feather was used as the first nesting building activity. It was brought down to the branch, held with a foot and anchored with salivary cement (Wells 1999). Saliva was added a number of times (see composite image 3). The bird then flew off and came back to add more material. The male was located about 10 meters away on the bare branch of another tall tree, possibly on lookout duty. I also wondered if the feather used was taken from the bird itself or found in the forest; I am inclined to think it came from the bird.

Image 3: The feather was used as the first nesting building activity. It was brought down to the branch, held with a foot and anchored with salivary cement (Wells 1999). Saliva was added a number of times. Kledang Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. 4 August 2022.

The location of the nesting site was 10 meters up, on a very thin bare branch of a forest tree, species unknown (see Image 4). Wells (1999) notes nests are usually “9-40 m above ground” and “fully exposed, allowing unobstructed access and an all-round view”.

Image 4: The location of the nesting site was 10 meters up, on a very thin bare branch of a forest tree, species unknown. Kledang Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. 4 August 2022.

I decided to leave so as not to impair the nesting activity and so did not observe further activity and any male involvement (documented in literature).

I reelevated my observations and realised that the first branch choice was abandoned, not due to my presence, but as an inappropriate site. The branch was possibly too thick and perhaps sloping too steeply. In my own observations, and from images of nesting by others, the nest site is usually located on a ‘pencil-thin twig’ (Wells 1999). This may be as a deterrent from mammalian predators.

My observations suggest that nest nesting building initiation may begin with the use of a single feather.

 

References:

Wells, D.R. (1999). The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 (Passerines). Christopher Helm, London.

 

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

 

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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.

LW Teo

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