Vol 9 No 2
snakes: myth & reality
fell & fly: about poems
finding & growing native plants
merope angulata
glochidion littorale
the kingfisher experience
wetland rainforest
the sungei buloh mangroves
how sungei
buloh 'got' me
world environment
day: 5 jun 02
back home again
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the kingfisher experience
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by calvin w l ho
reserve volunteer
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A
little known fact about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) is that it
is home to all 8 species of Kingfishers recorded in Singapore.
Three species are residents (Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris,
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis and White-throated
Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis. The other five species are visitors
(Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata, Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo
meninting, Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, Black-backed
Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca and Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda).
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Black-capped Kingfisher
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Blue-eared Kingfisher
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An
even less known fact may be that Kingfishers have long captured the
fascination of man. And those fascinated have not failed to record their
"Kingfisher experience", with the oldestrecord dating back to
ancient Egypt.
The uncontested eminence of Kingfishers may be attributable to their
distinct features and traits that set them apart from the other birds.
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The residents...
Bright and colourful plumage Kingfishers are renowned for their vivid plumage. These
range from all shades of blue to green, orange-brown to ginger, and even
black and white. Not surprisingly, Kingfishers have been featured at an early
stage of history as illustrated by a 14th century BC Egyptian painting of a
Kingfisher against a marshland setting. In the Far East, the ritual classic
of the ancient Chinese Chou Dynasty (approximately 1050-256 BC) describes the
use of Kingfisher feathers in the third of six ceremonial dances, apparently
for the purpose of blessing the four quarters of the realm. The reference to
the striking plumage of Kingfishers by Li Shang Yin, a famous poet of the
late T'ang Dynasty, in his "No Title" poem, is just one among many
sculptures, paintings, embroidery and other works of art that featured these
magnificent birds since the Chinese T'ang Dynasty (approximately 7 to 10AD).
Habitat by the Water, Swift Movement and
Dives for Prey
The Kingfisher species recorded at SBWR generally live in habitats that are
close to water. They have a reputation for direct and swift movement, whether
it is in switching from one perch to another, defending territory, hovering
momentarily before an attack, capturing insects in mid-air, diving for
aquatic prey or swooping down for land prey.
When hunting, a Kingfisher would typically be sedentarily perched on a snag,
tree or service wire overhanging an open area or water surface providing it
with a clear view of potential prey. On locating its prey, it plunge-dives
off the perch, captures the prey with its bill and returns to the perch
position - all in a flash of single-minded resolve. Such swiftness has not
escaped the attention of man and it has been depicted in various anecdotes:
The socio-cultural transition of the Malay Archipelago from the
Hindu-Buddhist era to the Islamic era led to a change in the construction and
use of the kris. The Garuda-shaped hilt was replaced with the form of a
Kingfisher (pekaka), perhaps to emphasize the swiftness which was necessary
as the kris assumed a more prominent role as a weapon.
Some of the Vimanas (airships described in ancient Indian writings) were
named after Kingfishers in the Vedas, a collection of ancient Hindu poems.
The swift movement of Kingfishers has been featured in the folklore of
several tribes of the North American Indians, including the Sioux and the
Arikara tribes. This has more recently been used symbolically in Gerard
Manley Hopkins' poem which opens with the words "[a]s kingfishers catch
fire, dragonflies draw flames" (in the study of counterpoints in
language) and Charles Olson's "The Kingfishers" (in the examination
of compartmentalization of information).
Distinctive Call and Bill Kingfishers have
comparatively distinctive calls; ranging from thin shrill squeaks to harsh
discordant shrieks or cackles.
The Koreans have long noticed the distinctive calls and bills of Kingfishers
and an explanation was attempted. In a folklore, the lengthy bill of a
Kingfisher was the consequence of a physical confrontation with the locust
(more likely to be a cicada) that arose from a dispute between them. This
dispute has not been resolved and is regularly heard at SBWR.
In fact, Kingfishers have distinctively long and straight dagger-like bills
in order to hold fast their prey upon capture. A firm grip on the captured
prey is important as it is not immediately consumed. Once the Kingfisher has
returned to its perched position, the prey is struck and battered against a
hard object (which may take up to 30 minutes) before it is swallowed, usually
headfirst.
Solitary and Solidarity Kingfishers are particularly
territorial and are usually seen alone, except during the breeding season
when they can be sighted in pairs. This observation may have inspired the
moving story in Greek mythology between Alcyone, daughter of Aeolus, King of
the Winds, and Ceyx, son of the Morning Star. When Ceyx was drowned at sea,
the distraught Alcyone cast herself into the sea in order to be with her
husband. Moved by her devotions, the gods transformed both Alcyne and Ceyx
into Kingfishers so that they could be together again.
Due in part to the Greek myth, it was once thought that Kingfishers built
their nests out at sea. However, it is now known that their nests are found
on land and are burrows excavated in the ground, usually near a river or some
form of water body, in a termite mound or in decayed tree trunks.
A Walk through the Wetlands SBWR provides wonderful
opportunities for every visitor to share in this wealth of natural and
cultural "Kingfisher experience" that has so enriched our
ancestors. The colours that dazzled, the swiftness that marveled, the calls
that astounded and the solidarity that inspired can still dazzle, marvel,
astound and inspire today. All of these in a casual stroll through the
Reserve.
Species
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Length
(mm)
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Weight
(g)
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Survival
(months)
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Occurrence at SBWR
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Stork-billed Kingfisher (n=10)
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348-388
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154.0-224.0
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25
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All year
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White-throated Kingfisher (n=11)
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261-283
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63.0-85.0
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10 cf 66*
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All year
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Collared Kingfisher (n=60)
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230-264
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50.0-76.0
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83 cf 131*
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All year
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Black-capped Kingfisher (n=9)
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286-310
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71.0-138.0
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21 cf 99*
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Sep-Mar (Oct, Nov peak)
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Blue-eared
Kingfisher (n=1)
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153
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16.0
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No info
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Vagrant-
1 record
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Common Kingfisher (n=12)
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166-173
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24.0-28.0
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No info
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Sep-Mar (Sep, Oct peak)
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Black-backed Kingfisher (n=1)
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125
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14.0
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25*
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Rare, Winter Visitor
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Ruddy Kingfisher
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266-268
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76.0-77.0
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71*
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Rare, Winter Visitor
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Provided by James Gan, Senior Conservation Officer
Source of Bird Data are from SBWR Bird Ringing Programme. Those marked with *
are taken from The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula by David R Wells
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