The mistletoe Macrosolen cochinchinensis has flowers that only open when visited by birds. When a bird grasps the flower bud, the petals suddenly unfold to expose the stamens and style. At the same time pollen is probably discharged from the anthers on to the bird. The bird helps itself to the nectar and at the same time assists in the pollination of the flower.

The image above (left) shows the elongated flower buds and the yellowish aborted ovaries that failed to be pollinated. One of the flowers was subjected to a slight squeeze (by me, not the parrot) on its swollen portion, resulting in the petals beginning to unfold to expose the stamens and style. The image on the right (above) shows two fruits and an aborted ovary.

Most of these mistletoes in my garden fail to form fruits, possibly because pollinating agents, mainly nectar-seeking birds, are absent.

In early September 2007, I managed to see images by Chan Yoke Meng showing a female Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus) foraging amongst such a mistletoe plant. One of the images clearly shows the parrot with its bill clamped on to the swollen flower bud (above, top arrow). This of course will trigger the flower bud to open. The flower below the parrot (lower arrow) most probably opened as a result of such a treatment.

The images below show the acrobatic abilities of this hanging parrot, being able to harvest nectar the right way up as well as upside down. The enlarged image (bottom left) clearly shows the parrot’s tongue (arrow) as it takes in the nectar from the flower. The other enlarged image (bottom right) again shows the parrot’s bill at work on the flower bud.

Obviously this parrot is one of this mistletoe’s pollinators. Sunbirds also visit these flowers, but whether they act similarly as this parrot, I have to wait for a photographer to provide the evidence.

According to Forshaw (1977), these hanging parrots feed on nectar, fruits, seeds, blossoms and possibly small insects. Wells (1999) states that they visit the flowers of coral trees (Erythrina spp.), “apparently for nectar but this has not been proven in the field.”

Earlier postings on mistletoes can be viewed here: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Images by YC (top two) and Chan Yoke Meng (others).

References:
1. Forshaw, J. M. (1973). Parrots of the world. N.J.: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
2. Ladley, J.J., Kelly, D. & Robertson, A.W. (1997). Explosive flowering, nectar production, breeding systems, and pollinators of New Zealand mistletoes (Loranthaceae). New Zealand J. Bot. 35:345-60.
3. Wells, D.R. (1999). The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London.

For a few weeks in July 2007 I was observing a single Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) visiting my starfruit tree (Averrhoa carambola). The bird would silently fly in during the late morning and flit from branch to branch gleaning insects, mainly ants. It would spend about five minutes in the tree before flying off.

The tailorbird had been absent for a few months since the failed nesting in my neighbour’s garden in March 2007. That nesting tragically ended when the adults abandoning the chicks (for whatever reason/s). As reported earlier, the chicks were found ‘mummified’ inside the nest about a month later.

Then on the evening (4.05 pm) of 4th August, I heard the sound of a fledging begging for food in the starfruit tree. The chiup-chiup-chiup was loud and consistent. On investigating, I found a few tiny birds moving around the tree, easily recognised as a family of Common Tailorbirds. The adults were silent and went about rapidly and confidently gleaning insects. (The image on the left appears to be an adult female.) One even flew down and foraged on the ground. One of the birds was a fledgling, perching on a branch, making begging calls and at the same time vibrating its wings.

There were one or two young juveniles about (top panel), not as helpless as the fledgling but clumsily went about catching ants. These juveniles moved about, but not as rapidly as the adults.

The birds were around for about 30 minutes before the family moved off to another tree.

“Are there detrimental effects to the regulation of water levels in the three ponds? Over the years, we have found that leaving the ponds at low water level for periods of more than a week result in the drying out of the mud with consequent die off of the mud invertebrates. When two or three ponds are carefully operated with minimal drying out periods of four days or less, the benefits of water level regulation are evident.

“The bottom line – Has the number of shorebirds in Sungei Buloh increased, decreased or remained stable over all these years?

“Analysis of the shorebird census data for Sungei Buloh has been made for the wetland’s seven most abundant shorebird species over a period of seven years (from 2000 to 2006). The trends discerned are as follows:

“Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Pacific Golden Plover and Whimbrel – Increasing numbers during both southward and northward migration

“Marsh Sandpiper – Stable numbers during both southward and northward migration

“Mongolian Plover – Steady recovery in numbers during the southward migration after a dramatic and steep decrease observed in 2002 and 2003. Avoidance of the wetland during the northward migration since the spring of 2003.

“Curlew Sandpiper – Erratic numbers during the southward migration. Avoidance of the wetland during the northward migration since the spring of 2001.

“In summary, the current water regime management at Sungei Buloh serves its purpose. Overall, the absolute number of shorebirds counted at Sungei Buloh is at its highest over the last seven (and even ten) years. More can be done to further improve the conservation management of the wetland’s biodiversity and in particular the shorebirds that make use of Sungei Buloh. We invite concerned and interested people to contribute to the improvement of Sungei Buloh as a wetland thriving with biodiversity. Opportunities are available for volunteers in areas as diverse as research, guiding, educational outreach, photography and documentation. Interested? Call 67941401 or email at info@sbwr.org.sg”

The above is extracted from the April 2007 issue of Wetlands, courtesy of the National Parks Board, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea), whose population is globally VULNERABLE, has a restricted distribution in Southeast Asia (above). Its population worldwide is estimated at 5,500 birds, confined mainly to Indonesia, with smaller populations in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and possibly Vietnam. Through the years the population in Malaysia has seen a massive decline.

On the other hand, the Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), although not globally threatened, is regionally threatened in Southeast Asia (above).

Both storks have been sighted during the last few years in Singapore, mainly in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Their status here is debatable – either vagrant or escapee.

KC Tsang has encountered quite a few specimens in Sungei Buloh that are possible hybrids of the two species. This has been confirmed by David Li, Waterbird Conservation Officer with Wetlands International. David believes that it is possible that these birds could be one of the free flying hybrid.

In a Wetlands International study on the status of the Milky Stork population in Malaysia during 2004-2006, it was reported that hybridisation does occur between free-flying Milky and Painted Storks in the zoos/bird parks in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Wetlands International report can be seen HERE.

“So far we’ve been speaking of House Crows (Corvus splendens) going after smaller victims, but once I’ve seen them tackle a bittern in the air.

“It was a Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus), an unfortunate Glass Window Casualty (see 1, 2). It reportedly crashed into the classroom block of my secondary school, and together with a friend I took it in and ‘nursed’ it (left top). It was nothing much, just some grazes on the wing and it was in a bit of a shock. Well, after a few days it looked healthy (and certainly much more aggressive) enough, so we decided to release it. We placed him on a nearby open field, and he lifted off beautifully and with purpose. We watched it go into the distance… and then, to our horror, a flock of about six or seven House Crows took flight from a tree close by, and cawed after it (left bottom). They closed the gap and tried to claw at it, the poor bittern trying its best to evade. It was a gripping and shocking aerial chase, a one-sided battle. My memory’s hazy, so I can’t remember the specifics but it ended with the messy flurry of black and brown headed for the ground. They fell behind some buildings some distance away, so I did not manage to find out what then happened. I was never really fond of crows to begin with but from that day on I absolutely disliked them.

PS: “I find that the Black-naped Orioles (Oriolus chinensis) frequently chase after crows, particularly if the crows have something in their bills - food? Kudos to the orioles. ;)”

Images by Tang Hung Bun (bittern) and YC (crows).