BUTTERFLIES & BIRD

It was a field day for the butterflies and birds. I saw a number of Plain Tiger and Leopard Lacewing butterflies and the Yellow-Vented Bulbul around HortPark.

YELLOW VENTED BULBUL

At first glance, it may not be obvious that a bird was perched on this tree. Or rather, it was a young chubby-looking Yellow Vented Bulbul (scientific name: Pycnonotus goiavier) chick. Their non-colourful and earthy tone plumage helps them camouflage perfectly against the branches and leaves.

What do these birds feed on, I often wonder? They are doing so well at HortPark that I see them everywhere. Yesterday, a colleague enlightened me that they also feed on the fruits of the Melastoma malabathricum. No wonder the fruits of the plant in the same vicinity of the Native Garden were often damaged and revealed the fleshy pulp within. Now I know why.

BULBUL

Hey little birdie, what were you looking at?

YELLOW VENTED BULBUL

When I started pruning the Cordia cylindristachya near the foreground of the photo on 20 May 10, I startled a bird that flew out from amongst the branches and perched itself on the white-flowered Calliandra towards the right.

Upon closer inspection, I saw a nest with 2 brown mottled eggs. Ah, so this must be the parent bird, presumably female, trying to hatch the eggs. Apparently, it loves to build its nest amongst thick dense vegetation, so I stopped pruning the Cordia to provide some form of shade, screen and cover for the nest.

As I stepped away towards a corner, the mother bird flew right back to its nest. Only a doting parent would provide such dedicated attention to its young. Unfortunately, days later, the eggs were damaged and the parent was nowhere in sight. The eggs never had a chance and neither did I get to see the nestlings. What a pity!

BULBUL

I saw this pair of Bulbuls yesterday.











They landed on this cane wreath. I didn't have my camera with me so i had no choice but to snap them using my mobile phone camera.

The quality didn't come out too well, but they still looked so loving and lovely.