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Subject: Nesting Fork-Tailed Sunbird [Print This Page]

Author: wilsondring Time: 21/04/2013 21:38 Subject: Nesting Fork-Tailed Sunbird

deleted .. my apologizes for not being aware of the rules of this forum ..

[[i] Last edited by wilsondring at 21/04/2013 22:36 [/i]]

Author: tbob Time: 21/04/2013 22:17

Wilson, as nice as these shots may be, I believe the HKBWS has a policy of not allowing any nesting shots to be allowed on the BBS. as this encourages others to go out and take shots of nesting birds. Remember it is illegal to disturb nesting birds, I realize with long lenses photographers are a long distance from the nest but there will be always one photographer who wants to get closer.

Bob

Author: wilsondring Time: 21/04/2013 22:33

noted .. deleting ..

Author: tbob Time: 21/04/2013 22:36

Thanks Wilson and I do enjoy looking at all your other photos on the BBS

Bob

Author: tmichael Time: 21/04/2013 22:51

Changing the topic slightly I last week watched a male F-t Sunbird doing the display which I think someone posted pictures of, maybe in spring last year. It was at Magazine Service Gap Reservoir Road on HK Island.

Actually the bird was making an unusual ticking sound so I thought I was looking for a very late Asian Stubtail or similar, but noticed this glaring bright yellow object swaying around slightly - these of course are the bright yellow rump feathers (I think) which are normally completely hidden under the bird's wings at rest, but which it raises to stunning effect during this display. It looks almost like a bright yellow flattened mushroom coming out of the bird's back.

It impressed me enormously and must be very impressive to female Sunbirds.

Maybe others see it often but it was the first time I've seen it.

M. Turnbull

Author: wilsondring Time: 21/04/2013 22:57

Quote:

Original posted by tmichael at 21/04/2013 22:51
Changing the topic slightly I last week watched a male F-t Sunbird doing the display which I think someone posted pictures of, maybe in spring last year. It was at Magazine Service Gap Reservoir Road ...

copied and pasted from my facebook group "Hong Kong Birders"

"this afternoon, i was photographing a female Fork-Tailed Sunbird feeding and attending to her nest. during the course of the afternoon, we noticed that there were two male in the area ...

one soon disappeared but the other hung around very close to the nest but would not feed nor tend to the nest. Instead, he stood on a branch and started to dance about, .. opening his wings, ... went up and down the branch and as soon as the female came back to feed the kids, .. he jumped into action and the female quickly flew away.

we suspect that he was not actually father but one who was trying to court the mother.

anyone else seen anything like this before?"

this particular male also had this yellow patch on his back ..

Author: tbob Time: 21/04/2013 23:33

Wilson, I have observed a yellow patch (see link) before but had always assumed it was flower nectar but I am most probably wrong

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jin ... -72157632486333776/

Bob

Author: wilsondring Time: 21/04/2013 23:36

Quote:

Original posted by tbob at 21/04/2013 23:33
Wilson, I have observed a yellow patch (see link) before but had always assumed it was flower nectar but I am most probably wrong

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jin ... zes/o/in/set-721576 ...

actually, the yellow patch which i observed was not on the head but on the lower back .. e was so close to me that i was unable to focus and therefore do not have a shot .. however, i do have a friend who took a video of this dance .. i will try and find it and post the link ..

Author: wilsondring Time: 25/04/2013 17:54

I was back at the nest this afternoon... I can confirm that the nest is now empty, no mother was seen for the two and a half i was there but 4 babies were seen flying around near by. The nest is now taken over by a bunch of ants.

A male, i believe not the father but the same one as seen on sunday trying to court the mother was hang around and eventually jumped into the nest and after inspecting and finding that it was empty, .. He also flew off ..

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