On 2nd Sep 2006 Tang Hung Bun wrote: “This morning my friends and I were shocked to see a poachers’ net (18m by 3m) in the Kranji area. There were five Baya Weavers (Ploceus philippinus) caught in it. My friends quickly freed the birds, but two of them were already dead. These two were probably trapped in the net for a long time and suffered a slow death. They were juveniles. Before we left, we destroyed the net.”Ashley Ng added: “These poachers usually set up their mist net early in the morning before sunrise or the day before. They will come back the next few hours or days to check on the netting… Why leave the birds to die? Poachers usually have a list of species they want to catch. Those unwanted species are usually left to die a slow death.

“Which species to catch? Based on habitat, they are probable interested in munias, doves, bulbuls which have better market rates than baya weavers.

“Occasionally, other bigger mammals such as bats and squirrels get trapped on the mist net and eventually die.” From Penang, Malaysia, Daisy O’Neill has this to say: “…mist netting is the most common method used on the ‘mainland’ across the causeway, especially in more remote areas. I came across another bird trapper doing it in ‘motorbike style’ (above). “He has a Zebra Dove (now Peaceful Dove, Geopelia striata) in his homemade, creative contraption he is holding. He selects his poled position and waits behind some bushes. At times, he coaxes the dove to ‘coo’ for mates to join her. Doves would land on the old fishing net hung loose in the ‘racket’ loop to catch the landing dove, trapping it when its feet get entangled in the net (below). So simple! “He was given a friendly advice to be wary of species of birds that are protected, that can land him with a jail term and fine.”

An earlier posting on the poaching of the Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) can be seen here.

Input by Tang Hung Bun, Ashley Ng and Daisy O’Neill (Avian Writer). Top three images by Tang and bottom three by Daisy.

Part 1 of the account on the fig tree at the summit of Bukit Timah lists the 29 species of birds that were documented in and around the vicinity of the Benjamin fig (Ficus benjamina) during its short figging period. The list was compiled by birder Yong Ding Li. In Part 2, our bird specialist R. Subaraj made a detailed analysis of the list as well as adding to the species of birds. In this final part, suggestions are made on what birders can do when the tree bears fig next year. For the 2007 figging, I would suggest that local birders move on to a higher level of birdwatching. The many old (in terms of experience as well as age) birdwatchers should begin to study the behaviour of these different birds that are attracted to the figging tree. Like when (in terms of time of day and days of the week) these birds visit and whether they all arrive at the same time or at different times? Do these species interact in a friendly manner or aggressively towards one another? Do the different species feast at different areas of the tree (peripheral of the crown, crown interior, branches, etc)? For a specific location of the tree, is there a pecking order of feasting? In fact there are so many aspects of bird behaviour that can be observed during this short span of less than two weeks the tree will be figging. If different birdwatchers report back on different periods of the day or days of the week, someone can then compile the information. This will help us have a better understanding of bird behaviour when the tree at Bukit Timah produces its next bountiful yield of figs.

Understandably, some of the older and more experienced birders have seen these birds already and may not be interested in spending time at the tree. Never mind. But the newer and younger (and dare I say, more energetic and enthusiastic) birdwatchers should lead the way to the next level of birdwatching in Singapore.

After nearly half a century of birdwatching in Singapore, it is about time we take the challenge to understand the birds that we see everyday, not just keep on listing them.

Input by YC, image of Tiger Shrike (Lanius tigrinus) eating insect (top) by Chan Yoke Meng and Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella) (bottom) by Johnny Wee.

Asian Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), also known as the Common Paradise Flycatcher, is a migratory bird wintering in tropical Asia. It began to arrive in Singapore around late September and early October and this was the time Meng and Melinda Chan sighted a pair in the Central Catchment forest. The male was a white morph with tail longer than the female but the spectacular long central feathers were absent. The pair took turns darting out of the forest canopy to catch flying insects, returning immediately to feed.

It is insectivorous, often hunting for insects like bees, small beetles, flies and neuropterans. It has been reported to hunt with mixed flock. In this instance the female was seen perching near to a Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier).

Note: On 12th June David Tan sent in images of the bird nesting in Taman Negara, Malaysia. On 28th September KC Tsang reported seeing a juvenile at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. There may be other sightings as well. There is also an earlier posting on its nesting.

Input and images (top, male; rest female) by Meng and Melinda Chan.

The latest addition of the back view image of the bird (left) is by Allan Teo.

The first part of the series, on documentation, was posted a few days earlier. The account attracted the attention of our bird specialist R. Subaraj who has this to say:

“I just had a read through the latest posting on the fruiting fig tree at Bukit Timah. The species list is great but reflects what was seen at the summit rather than just the tree itself. To the non-birder or less experienced, the list is therefore misleading as readers will believe that all the birds listed were seen in the fig tree and were there for the figs, which is definitely not true (but see below).

“Those that were seen over the summit and definitely not in the fig tree were Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus), Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) and the Himalayan (Collocalia brevirostris) and Edible-nest Swiftlet (Collocalia fuciphaga). Those seen generally in the summit area were Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) and Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis). Additionally, the following species that may have been recorded in the fig tree, were there for insects rather than the fruits: Asian Paradise (Terpsiphone paradisi) and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers (Ficedula zanthopygia), Arctic ( Phylloscopus borealis) and Eastern Crowned Warblers (Phylloscopus coronatus), Tiger Shrike (Lanius tigrinus), Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis), Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradisus). It is also important to note that the great variety of species at the summit and in the fig was because of the time of the year….when many migrants were present.

“My comments are based on many past visits to this glorious fig tree since 1990.

“I visited the summit fig on September 27th, with Sham. There was less variety, birdwise, in the tree but we also had an Ashy Bulbul (Hemixos flavala), Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) and a small flock of Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis). I hope that you can add the above to the article so that readers are better informed about which species were actually visiting the fig and who the real frugivores are.”

NOTE: I am afraid I have to take responsibility for the misunderstanding. In Yong Ding Li’s words, the birds listed “…are in and in vicinity of the tree.” In my enthusiasm to post the article I did not include this qualification. This has now been rectified in the blog post. Sorry about that. YC

Image of Asian-paradise Flycatcher (top) by Johnny Wee; Tiger Shrike (middle) and Asian Glossy Starlings (bottom) by Chan Yoke Meng.

One day this year, Joe Yao came across a male White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) perching on a branch of a tree (above). He returned to the same location at around the same time the next day and there it was at on the branch. Realising a photo opportunity, he returned a third time, equipped with his camera and draped in a camouflage net, hoping to get nearer the perch. As luck would have it, the bird did not land on the same perch but on the ground nearby. As Joe turned around to leave the place he came across a rotting palm trunk, probably that of a fishtail palm (Caryota mitis). There, inside the hollow rotting trunk were four chicks packed together (above). He realised that he had stumbled upon the nest of the White-rumped Shama. Over a period of 12 days he returned to the area to document the development. The nest was completely empty on his last day of visit but he managed to locate one of the fledged chicks. As he recounted: “Hopefully, all four of them are safe and sound to grow up into adults, and this supposedly near extinct species would have increased by four in number. To fully appreciate the beauty of this species, you have to listen to its melodious call.”

Joe has made a video clip of both the male and female shama (below-top) and also one of the fledged chick (below-bottom) which can be viewed here.

Note: The White-rumped Shama is a spectacular songster with a great variety of whistles as it has the ability to mimic other birds. This unfortunately has been its downfall as it is regularly trapped and traded. The situation is such that there may be more shamas caged than in the wild. Whether the pair that Joe encountered were escapees is anybody’s guess. The fact that the bird is breeding, and nesting near to a public area, points to the possibility of the species making a slow comeback.

Input and images by Joe Yao.