According to Daisy O’Neill, Black-naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis) not only raid nests for eggs, they are also chick killers. She witnessed a premature chick being dragged out of the nest by an oriole some years ago. The victim was dropped to roast dry on the concrete floor. “I have yet to observe an oriole turn flesh eating,” she says.

Below is her experience on the Black-naped Oriole after reading the earlier account of this bird raiding the nest of the sunbird.

“The earlier raid of eggs from sunbird’s nesting site happened many years ago when my house renovator pointed out to me during the balcony extention project. The pendulated nest was overhanging from my balcony roof, then without a floor. Frantic calls of a pair of Olive-backed sunbirds (Cinnyris jugularis) caught my attention. From my window, I saw a yellow bird ‘wearing a ‘Zorro’s black mask’ took seige of the nest and started probing into the nest cavity.

“I ’shooed.’ the bird away with loud clapping of my hands. I did not even own a pair of binoculars then!

“Whether Black-naped Orioles are just vindictive destroyers or opportunistic consumers of their raids, I have insufficient statistical observations to provide confirmation. I think, the next opportunity I get, I should allow nature to take it’s course and observe - and I will let you know. It is going to be painful to see chicks get taken. Hopeful it is one that is too late for me to intervene.

“One thing for sure, whenever Yellow-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier) turn my balcony into their maternity home, Black-naped Orioles are never far away. Flocks of them roost nightly in the row of matured Angsana trees (Pterocarpus indicus) opposite my residence.

“Quite recently, I witnessed one that came right up and perched on the balcony grill for a good ‘look see’ after having observed that a pair of bulbuls were ‘busy’ at the balcony.

“I came to the conclusion that although Black-naped Orioles are attractive, quick and witty, with a personality of their own, they are rouge birds with predative instincts with a notion to just destroy. It appears to be their speciality trait.”

Image by YC.

On 2nd April 2007, Tang Hung Bun wrote: “Many of us have been to Tuas marshland for birding (above). While the number of dragonfly species seen there is less than that in the sedge ponds in Marina, there are some really interesting species.

“Loong Fah, Yangchen and myself paid a visit to Tuas wetland last Saturday and saw the damselfly Mortonagrion falcatum (both males and females) (left top). This species is listed as critically endangered in the forthcoming new edition of the Singapore’s Red Data Book. Another intersting species is Lestes praemorsus, which thrives in Tuas marshland, but nowhere else in Singapore (left bottom). Tuas wetland is going to be destroyed soon for the development of motocross site. It’s really very sad.

“How nice it would be if people are willing to alter their development plans in order to protect the habitat of wildlife?”

On 30th June 2007, Hung Bun again wrote: “Construction (destruction, rather) work in Tuas wetland has begun and bulldozers are already in action (below). Today, we found that the best part of the wetland, where we found the most species of dragonflies, is already gone. The number of species seen today is 13 compared to 19 we saw in a previous trip. The critically endangered Mortonagrion falcatum could not be seen at all.

“As we were checking on the dragonflies, we noticed some orchids and pitcher plants (below: Nepenthes gracilis and habitat, top; Bromheadia, bottom left and Arundina, bottom right).

“Tuas wetland will be converted into a motocross race course (see media reports, 13th July 2007, below). Birdlife there will be gone too. Typical species there are snipes and Red-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus).

“I believe that Mortonagrion falcatum is now extinct on the Singapore mainland. Hopefully, it still occurs in Tekong Island.”

Images by Tang Hung Bun except Mortonagrion falcatum by Cheong Loong Fah.

Many birds will try to distract you if you are near their nest, especially when there are chicks around. I have personally experience a Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) as well as a Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) trying to get me away from their nests by trying the “broken wing” trick.

The Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) does something else.

Last week, Johnny Wee came across a male Oriental Magpie Robin accompanied by a pair of recently fledged chicks perched on a branch of a tree (left top). The adult bird was foraging on the ground and found an earthworm to feed the hungry fledglings (left bottom).

When the bird noticed that Johnny was around, it flew away from the fledglings and had its back facing him, looking back all the time. It cocked its tail right up, showing off the prominent white margins, fanned it wide and then lowered it (below). At the same time the wings were spread downwards. All the time it was making scolding calls.

Obviously the bird was trying to lure Johnny away from the fledglings. When the trick did not work, it flew off in the opposite direction.

Smythies (1999) mentions that the bird, when on the ground, lowers its tail, expands it into a fan, then closes and jerks it up over the back, past the vertical. There is no mention that this is a distraction tactic. Wells (2007) records that “both sexes regularly cock the tail vertical and part-fan it to expose white margins; probably signal behaviour that is often accompanied by scolding calls.”

References
Smythies, B. E. (1999). Birds of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Pub. (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd. & The Sabah Society. 4th ed, revised by G. W. H. Davison.
Wells, D.R. (2007). The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. II, Passerines. Christopher Helm, London.