Thailand History Guide » Animal

Building the Birds’ Nest

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:46:17 +0000

The bird makes chewing and retching movements of the bill and throat, as the saliva is regurgitated and worked around the mouth. Saliva is smeared on the edge of the nest with the sides of the bill. The nest takes shape as a pad of hardened saliva adhering to the wall. Subsequently a rim is added and material is laid down in layers until a small cup-shaped nest is finally formed.

Building the Birds' Nest

Caves

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:42:45 +0000

Besides the swiftlets, an interacting community of animals known as troglodytes may be found in the caves. Bats are abundant. Both bats and swiftlets produce guano, which is fed upon by insects such as moths and cockroaches. These insects in turn provide food for other predalors such as bugs, centipedes and geckos. The mosl common predators of the swiftlets and their nestlings are the snakes. hawks and eagles that hunt in the surrounding areas, and the eggeating crickets.

Cricket

Bat Hawk

Caves

Collecting Birds’ Nests

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:29:50 +0000

In Thailand this is carried out between February and July. Three collections are made each breeding season. Birds’ nests are usually found in the lofty and dark interiors of caves. The nest collector, armed with a small torchlight and rope, stealthily climbs up the bamboo still that leads him to the nest.

Collection Bird's Nests Tools

Collecting Birds' Nests

Birds’ Nests of Southern Thailand

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:07:15 +0000

Thailand is one of the major producers of edible birds’ nests, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine dating as far back as the Ming and Qing dynasties of the 17th century. The swiftlets (nok kin lom) nest in caves along the southwestern coast and on the offshore islands. They find their way by echolocation. A series of up to 20 audible clicks per second is emitted and the echoes reflecting off the walls enable the birds to maneuver in the darkness. Already an expensive delicacy, these birds’ nests could become more expensive as overcollection threatens the normal cycle of nest building.

Birds of Southern Thailand

Type of Birds’ Nests

The black nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) uses its black feathers to build nests, hence the name “black nest.” In contrast, the white nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) builds its nest wholly with saliva.

Birds

Birds' Nests

Grades of Birds’ Nests

The price of edible birds’ nests varies according to their quality. White nests, wholly made of saliva, are more expensive. The best birds’ nests are the first ones built during the breeding season. Thicker and translucent white, they expand to almost 20 times their volume upon soaking. Second and third nests are of lower grade, appearing dirtier and thinner.

Color and Quality of Birds’ Nests

Some supposedly high-quality nests are reddish. However, the coloration bears no relation to blood and may have leached into the nest from the substrate.

Birds' Nests

Coral Reefs and Polyps

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:53:34 +0000

Coral reefs provide and important source of food and income to local Thais. Acoral polyp is a soft, almost transparent animal that builds its skeleton outside its body. Polyps feed at night by Extending their tentacles, each of which is armed with a series of stinging cells that paralyse any passing prey. The moray eel is a key predator in the reef ecosystem; it hides in crevices. lunging out to seize unsuspecting fish.

Coral Reefs and Polyps

Parrot Fish

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:47:41 +0000

Parrot fish have. large scales and a typically bird-like beak formed of fused teeth.

Parrot Fish

Triggerfish

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:45:10 +0000

Its common name refers 10 an erect spine in its dorsal fin, which cannot be released until a second spine (the trigger) is withdrawn.

Triggerfish

Emperor Fish

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:42:49 +0000

This fish has one of the largest territories of all coral-reef dwellers.

Emperor Fish

Surgeon Fish

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:38:45 +0000

Originating in the Indo-Pacific region, Ihis species is quite aggressive.

Sugeron Fish

Coachman Fish

thailandhistoryguide — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:19:19 +0000

The name of this fish derives from the long, whip-like appendages that often hang from its dorsal fin.

Coachman Fish

Green Turtle

thailandhistoryguide — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:06:49 +0000

Green turtles are exploited for their shell, flesh and eggs, and their numbers have been decimated wherever they occur.

Green Turle

Pests in the ricefields

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:47:48 +0000

The ricefield mouse and rat are common inhabitants of all ricefields and open grasslands, feeding on fallen grain, seeds and insects. The rat may also feed on rice plants and may be a pest in granaries where the dry grain is stored.

Pests in the ricefields

Comb Duck

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:40:54 +0000

The comb duck is a frequent visitor to ricefields and it nests on the edges of wooded marshland. It Oies with broad wing beats.

Comb Duck

Egrets and Herons

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:39:15 +0000

The rich aquatic and terrestrial life of the ricefields attracts large numbers of herons and egrets in all seasons. Although egrets and herons usually feed alone, they often roost together, which probably assists in detecting predators.

Herons

Egret

Bird of the Ricefields

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:30:49 +0000

The ricefields provide a rich feeding haven for a variety of birds. Some of the most common of these are the munias, a group of small, seed-eating birds that feed on ripening rice. These, in turn, attract aerial predators such as the black-shouldered kite and marsh harrier, which may also feed on amphibians such as frogs.

Birds of the Ricefields

Life at the water’s edge

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:24:40 +0000

The ricefield provides an ideal habitat for reptiles, fish and amphibians. Many of the fields are deliberately stocked with carp and catfish, which feed on decaying plants, algae and insect larvae. Frogs also help control the level of harmful insects, thereby eliminating the use of costly and often destructive pesticides.

Eel

Fish

Frogs

Beast of Burden

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:18:13 +0000

Although mechanical means of plowing ricefields are now available, most farmers still prefer
traditional means of cultivation involving the use of the water buffalo as a general beast of
burden. Known locally as the ”Asian tractor”‘, the water buffalo is also an important source of
milk and meat for many people. Its hide is used in clothing and its dung is collected as a fertilizer or as a source of fuel for burning.

Beast of Burden

Bird Species

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:56:42 +0000

The collared kingfisher (1), gray heron (2) and little cormorant (3) are bird species common in the coastal swamps and mud flats.

Bird of Mangroves Forests

Mangrove Snake

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:54:21 +0000

The mangrove snake is particularly adapted to this unusual habitat and is found just above the water level.

Mangrove Snake

The Estuarine Crocodile

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:52:14 +0000

This large estuarine crocodile is rarely seen. Forest clearance and aquaculture projects are responsible for its dwindling numbers.

Estuarine Crocodile

Cross Section of the Mangrove Coastline

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:41:06 +0000

Cross section of the mangrove coastline. The swamps are criss-crossed by tidal channels, which are often bordered by the Nipa palm. The mangrove’s enormous root syslems are the dominant feature of the habitat. It extends to the low tide mark, below which the roots cannol obtain enough oxygen for growth. Where the ground rises above high tide mark level away from the open sea, the surroundings gradually assume the character of lowland rain forest.

Mangrove Coastline

Below the water level, the mud and the roots give shelter to a plethora of marine life, including fish, crabs and molluscs.

Below The Water

Crab-eating Macaques

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:23:52 +0000

Crab-eating macaques are one of the numerous mammal species living in this environment.

Crab-eating Macaques

Slow Loris

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:55:33 +0000

This is a solitary nocturnal primate with large eyes and a thickly furred body.

Slow Loris

Pangolin

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:53:54 +0000

The scaly armor plating of the pangolin allows il to roll inlo a tight ball when threatened. It feeds exclusively on allts and termites.

Pangolin

Clouded Leopard

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:51:33 +0000

Living in tall sccondaly forests, the clouded leopard is a nocturnal predator that feeds on pigs, deer, monkeys and smaller animals.

Clouded Leopard

Elephant

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:49:32 +0000

The largest land mammal in Thailand, the Asian elephant is now a rare sight, with fewer than 3,000 animals remaining. Most of them are found in the national parks of the northeast.

Elephant

Tiger

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:47:38 +0000

This is the largest member of the cat family; fewer than 250 now survive in Thailand.

Tiger

Palm Civet

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:45:39 +0000

The agile small-toothed palm civet is a nocturnal species that searches for insects, fruit and small mammals in the branches of tall secondary forests.

Palm Civet

Binturong

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:42:54 +0000

Resembling a small bear, the binturong has a bushy, prehensile tail that enables it to feed in the trees as well as on the ground.

Binturong

Tapir

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:07:17 +0000

A shy forest-dweller, this herbivore is often found near quiet rivers and wallows, feeding on leaves and small trees.

Tapir

Pig-Tailed Macaques

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:21:29 +0000

These are diurnal primates, living in groups of 15-30 animals, feeding on fruit, small vertebrates and insects. They are mostly found in hill forests.

Pig-Tailed Macaques

Sun Birds

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:53:26 +0000

In their search for nectar, sunbirds carry pollinia from flower to flower thus acting as pollinating agents.

Sun Birds

Pollination

thailandhistoryguide — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:54:33 +0000

Bees and wasps are the most common pollinators of wild orchids. When the insect lands on the labellum, the pollinin adheres 10 its body. It is then transferred 10 other flowers.

Pollination : Bees

Brown Throated Sunbird

thailandhistoryguide — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:21:07 +0000

Among the many resident bird species that inhabit the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR), the sunbirds possess one of the most brilliantly coloured plumage. The bright colours are found only on the adult males with the females and young males clad mainly in varying hues of olive, green and yellow. Belonging to the family Nectariniidae, sunbirds are distributed from Africa to Asia and Australia. In Singapore, six species of sunbirds occur, of which four have been recorded at SBWR. That is about 4% of the total sunbird species worldwide. Of the four species, the most abundant at SBWR is the Brown-throated, also known as the Plain-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis). The Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) is the next most numerous followed by the Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostetha) and the Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja).

Sunbirds are essentially nectar feeders, but they are also known to take small insects. Superficially resembling the well-known hummingbirds of Central and South America, sunbirds however have strong feet and legs and have short rounded wings. Sunbirds have relatively long, slender decurved bills that enable them to probe into suitable flowers for nectar.

Their nests are unusual. Generally pear-shaped, globular or oval and composed of grass, fibres and cobwebs, they are usually suspended from the ends of terminal twigs. Clutches of two eggs is typical.

The survival of sunbirds has been monitored at SBWR through ringing studies. Although very small and active, sunbirds are known to have long lives in the wild. For example, the Brown-throated Sunbird, has been known to live for at least 61 months (5 years) in SBWR while studies in other localities have revealed lives exceeding 12 years! For the other species, SBWR has recorded (between ringing and subsequent capture) durations of 60 months (5 years) for the Olive-backed Sunbird and 61 months (5 years) for the Copper-throated Sunbird.

The Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostetha) is one of the more interesting species. Found only in South-east Asia, they live within the mangrove forest. They are one of the few bird species that are global mangrove specialists. Nesting on mangrove trees like Avicennia alba they feed from the flowers of mangroves like the Bruguiera gymnorhiza. Males have iridescent coppery red throats with iridescent green on the crown, shoulder and uppertail. Females have white throats and are mostly decorated in grey and yellow. They are sexually dimorphic with adult males being about 10% longer and 20% heavier than adult females. Nests have been seen in the reserve between April and August and it has been known to nest from January to September in other localities.

Perhaps the most abundant sunbird at the wetland, the Brown-throated Sunbird, can be seen in all areas of SBWR. It is also the largest sunbird species in SBWR (and Singapore). Weighing in at a maximum of 14.0g, males are generally larger than females especially in terms of body length. Possessing reddish eyes (iris) when they are adults (the other three species have dark brown eyes), they have olive brown eyes as juveniles.

What about the smallest sunbird species in SBWR? Either the Crimson Sunbird or the Olive-backed Sunbird qualifies. These two species also share a common characteristic that is the exhibition of an eclipse plumage in the males. This is essentially a short-term post-breeding plumage. Whatever the plumage type, the adult male Crimson Sunbird appears like a tiny red dot amongst the vegetation. It weighs about 7.0g (about the weight of a 50 cent coin) with females being slightly lighter. The females have the dubious honour of having perhaps the dullest plumage of any sunbird in the region with only dull olive and yellow to adorn herself.

The Olive-backed Sunbird is more abundant than the Crimson Sunbird. Many of them can be seen flitting among the flowering trees at the Visitor Centre complex especially on sunny days.

There is no doubt that the sunbirds as a group add life, colour and sound to the green vegetation in SBWR and Singapore in general. Generally, to attract and encourage sunbird populations to increase, it is important to cater to their food and nest requirements. Suitable free flowering trees and plants provide abundant nectar as food. Many types of trees may also be used as nest sites while grass patches serve to provide building material for the nest. SBWR has taken these measures and the population of sunbirds at the site serve as an indicator of the success of these measures. More studies await those interested in understanding especially the population dynamics, species interactions and carrying capacities of these sunbirds at SBWR.

Brown Throated Sunbird

Monitor Lizard

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:24:48 +0000

The monitor lizard is a diurnal species that feeds on insects, eggs, fish, other lizards, snakes, nestling birds and small mammals.

Monitor Lizard

Green Peafowl

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:21:50 +0000

The only viable population of green peafowls remaining in Thailand is found in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary where about 300 birds gain refuge.

Green Peafowl

Asian Black Bear

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:41:56 +0000

The Asian black bear is a forest dweller that feeds mainly on nuts and fruit, as well as ants, insect larvae and carrion.

Asian Black Bear

Hornbill

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:38:01 +0000

The strong and often ornate beak of the harnbill is perfectly molded for picking and cracking large fruit and seed pods from a wide range of forest plants.

Hornbill

Leaf Monkey and Gibbon

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:06:09 +0000

These primates dwell in the forest canopy and feed on fruit and leaves. The leaf monkey has a large, especially adapted stomach Similar to that of a cow.

Gibbon

: Leaf Monkey

Barking Deer

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:50:04 +0000

Also called muntjac, these solitary animals are found in woodlands, rain forests and monsoon forests with dense vegetation.

Barking Deer

Banteng

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:47:13 +0000

The banteng is a species of wild ox native to Southeast Asia.

Banteng

Kouprey

thailandhistoryguide — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:44:22 +0000

Once a widely distributed species, the douprey is today one of the most seriously threatened large mamals in the world.

Kouprey

Thailand History Guide » Animal

Building the Birds’ Nest

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Caves

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Collecting Birds’ Nests

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Birds’ Nests of Southern Thailand

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Coral Reefs and Polyps

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Parrot Fish

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Triggerfish

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Emperor Fish

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Surgeon Fish

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Coachman Fish

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Green Turtle

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Pests in the ricefields

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Comb Duck

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Egrets and Herons

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Bird of the Ricefields

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Life at the water’s edge

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Beast of Burden

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Bird Species

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Mangrove Snake

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The Estuarine Crocodile

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Cross Section of the Mangrove Coastline

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Crab-eating Macaques

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Slow Loris

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Pangolin

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Clouded Leopard

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Elephant

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Tiger

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Palm Civet

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Binturong

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Tapir

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Pig-Tailed Macaques

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Sun Birds

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Brown Throated Sunbird

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