05/02/2010 – Up Close with a Yellow-vented Bulbul

{ 13/02/2010 @ 3:33 pm } · { Dillenia, Dillenia suffruticosa (D), Kent Ridge (D), Observation (D), Yellow-vented Bulbul (D) }

As promised, here’s the continuation of the previous post.

Close to 5 pm in very unhappy weather, Wen Qing and I ran out in to retrieve the video camera. We were caught in the rain, but it was all worth it for while replaying the 6 hour long video in 4x, a flutter of brown and white suddenly caught my eye.. Here’s the edited footage

Fascinated with the way the YVB approached and landed on the stem, I cut out stills from the video to have a better look.

Sequence showing how the YVB approached the fruit.

Seems to me that the bird first flew down to inspect the fruit for seeds. Then, after ascertaining that there were, it proceeded to fly up to land on the stem.

Preparing to land.

Coming in to land in the correct orientation required that the YVB first turn itself around.

Touching down.

Touching down is quite a prolonged affair if stills of the movie are viewed one by one. After making contact with the stem, the bird first has to steady itself. And it doesn’t seem easy either since the stem bobs up and down.

Steadying itself.

To steady itself, the YVB flapped its wings several times and repositioned its footing, all the while keeping its head bent forward and low.

Keeping an eye out for danger.

Before eating, the YVB had a good look around to ensure that no predators were about to sneak up on it. It looked left and right before casting a backward glance over its shoulder. And when it had determined that the coast was clear, it was time to eat…

The first 2 seeds were picked out of the fruit and eaten in quick succession.

Holding the third seed in its bill and having a look around.

Before going for the third seed, the YVB had a quick look around. It then picked out the third seed, and while holding it in its bill, it looked around again before swallowing the seed. In the process of doing so, it also uttered a short scritch-scratch call. Wonder what it means/expresses?

Looking if there are any more seeds to eat.

Another bent of the head into the fruit and a rapid survey led the bird to determine that there were no more seeds to pick out. So, it’s time to leave!

Casting a look over its shoulder. Perhaps to check if there are any obstacles/danger behind?

Casting a look over its shoulder, it took off from its perch, where it had spent barely 20 seconds feeding.

Taking off into the skies, or perhaps for another snack.

Thank you, YVB, for visiting the fruit

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone!

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