Anting outside my bathroom window
Posted by BESG on 20 June 07, Wednesday
Contributed by YC
At 8.15 am on 9th May 2007 I noticed a pair of Javan Mynas perching quietly in my starfruit tree (Averrhoa carambola) just outside my bathroom window. They appeared to be preening. Each bird was actively pecking its body and wings and making “jumping” movements although securely perched on the branch. After a few minutes in one perch the birds moved to a nearby branch and repeated the action all over again.
On closer look I suddenly realised that they were not preening. The action was too rapid. The birds were actually anting.
They picked up the ants near their feet and immediately placed them on their breast and wings, making short jumps and flapping the wings at the same time. They were also fluffing their body feathers.
All these were done quietly, without a sound being made. Because of the glass between the birds and myself, they felt comfortable to continue anting. With the aid of my binoculars, I was able to have a closer look. One bird was perching where ants were crawling over its feet. It pecked a few and probably swallowed some and placed others on its plumage.
This went on for about 15 minutes before the birds flew away.
Since the first posting on anting on 16th October 2005, there have been a number of others, also on Javan Mynas (Acridotheres javanicus), an albino Javan Myna, a Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and lately mass anting by again, Javan Mynas at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Birders need to keep watch on other species of birds that have so far not been reported anting.
NOTE: Accounts of anting posted between October 2005 and August 2008 have now been written up and published in the 2008 issue of the on-line journal, Nature in Singapore (Vol. 1, pp. 23-25). A PDF file of Anting in Singapore birds is available HERE.
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