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Pair of Pink-necked Green-pigeon chicks fell from the nest…

on 9th July 2019

A pair of Pink-necked Green-pigeons (Treron vernans) built their simple nest at the base of an old palm frond. As the frond turned older, it slowly bent downwards causing the chicks to be displaced from the nest (below). Mrs Kame Ong found the two helpless chicks on the ground. At a loss on what to do, she contacted Dr Jean Ho who in turn contacted BESG.

Accordingly, Kame placed the chicks in a shallow basket lined with old towels and hung it from the top of the palm (below). This was to ensure that stray cats and passersby will not stumble on the chicks.

All this time the adult male was nearby, perched on a palm frond. In due course the adult female flew to the basket to feed the chicks (above). After all, in green-pigeons it is the female that broods the chicks during the day, the male taking the night shift.

It should be noted that when chicks get displaced from their nest, the adults will always be around, but they are well hidden from view. They do not abandon their chicks.

Of the two chicks, the older was more active and in the video clip above, you can see the adult feeding the older by allowing it to probe into its gape to received regurgitated crop milk LINK.

Soon after, the chicks disappeared from the hanging basket (below). And the adults were nowhere to be seen. As the chicks were not old enough to fledge, it is possible that they were victims of predator/s. After all, the hanging basket was exposed to the surroundings and probably attracted the attention of predators.

Mrs Kame Ong with Dr Jean Ho
Singapore
1st July 2019

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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