John&Jacq~s Garden

Posted by Jacqueline on June 5th, 2008 in Tropical Wildlife: our garden

The month of May 2008 was very significant for us! We have VIP visiting our home garden since the third week of May. A pair of White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus) had finally succeeded in building their nest outside, on our potted Rhapis excelsa (Lady Palm), at our front yard! Yippee, the breeding season/cycle has begun!

Wow! What a joyful blessing! How marvelous! A bird’s nest in our garden! It had been a very long wait, probably about 16 years ago that we last had one at our garden porch. Several nest-building attempts were made over the years, only to be abandoned quarter-way through. Right image above shows one of the bulbul birds that attempted to build a nest on the same palm tree a year ago.

If I recall correctly, starting May 20th or 21st, a loving pair of White-browed Bulbul was at it for about a week. I could hear their loud chattering or sort of love call to each other as they surveyed our garden for an appropriate spot to build their home. Our 8.5 feet tall ornamental Lady Palm bush was targeted. There were frequent flights in/out and I could see them carrying nest materials such as dried leaves or twigs with their beak as they paused briefly on our hanging pot of orchids. All their bustling outside, returning to build their nest bit by bit over the week kept me extremely excited as I watched from where I was working on my computer inside, facing outside.

Their loose and bowl-shaped nest that is securely attached to the stems of the palm leaves is comprised of dry grasses, leaves, roots, twigs and vine stems. On the outside, it looked wishy-washy but inside…wow! Neat, tidy and beautifully lined, like a well-woven mini basket! Great ingenuity!

This lovely pair is so alert and watchful, especially the female that is nesting. The male bird is seen less frequently, I wonder why? The sad thing is our palm tree is located way too close (about 2 meters) to our home entrance/exit and there’s definitely no way to avoid nearing it as we go about our gardening activities or in and out. Though we mean no harm, the female feels threatened, flying away whenever it sights us. Fortunately, it is not deterred and will return to nest again and again. We really hope that it gets accustomed to our presence soon, settle down and breed well.

Haha, even now, we’re unsure whether the female had laid any eggs yet, not daring to venture too close to see, lest it decides never to return at all. John says it is alright as long as we do not disturb or touch its nest, somehow it can sense if its nest is ‘man-handled’.

I’m truly overwhelmed with amazement and wonder as I track its breeding progress with caution! There’s a wonderful indescribable feeling inside me, as if waiting anxiously to see one’s grandchild. Pray that everything turns out very fine for this young couple that aspires to start a family!

Update: June 6 2008
BIRD’S EGGS! Wow! The female had laid two eggs, beautifully pink-colored with reddish-brown blotches. Well-done, pretty mum-to-be! Exact time of laying eggs is unknown…could probably had been about 9-10 days ago when the nest-building was completed around May 27th or 28th?

Somehow, I had a strong conviction that the female had already laid her eggs. Firstly, she has been nesting on it most times. Probably both the would-be parents took turns in the incubation process, I just could not distinguish! Secondly, her lover comes visiting more often, and there were a lot of loud blabbering noises between them. Also, seen flying together happily around, as well as to the top of our TV aerial on the rooftop, singing in celebration of some sorts, I had presumed.

So, yesterday morning when all was quiet and they were no where to be seen, I quickly called John to check the nest. Up the ladder he climbed and with the help of a mirror (smart guy…must have done this umpteen times during his youth!) confirmed that there were 2 eggs inside. We were very excited, especially me! I then climbed the ladder hastily with my camera held with one hand. Just imagine, all this had to be done fast lest the female bird returns and becomes agitated! Not able to see where the eggs were, I just held the camera about 8 inches above the nest and clicked. How lovely that all 4 photos taken in a jiffy included those fabulous eggs. That, of course excludes my first shot of the ceiling by mistake, as I had the camera lens facing upwards instead of downwards on the nest in my excitement….until John laughingly corrected me. LOL!

What treasures and wonders to behold! Procreation, almost at our doorstep!

Update: June 10, 2008
HATCHLINGS AT LAST! BABIES HAVE ARRIVED! YIPPEE!
So wonderful…these cute hatchlings joined our world yesterday, 9th. of June! There was a flurry of activity between the new parents, flying in and about, bringing food for their little ones…that’s how we knew the eggs were hatched! Safely tucked in the nest, 8.5 feet above ground from our preying eyes!

Nonetheless, I just had to climb the ladder again to be assured that both the eggs were successfully hatched! And, of course, I can only get to see them in this much-awaited capture, taken when the parents weren’t around! Oh, I’m so happy…two hatchlings! Smooth, naked and seemingly roasted! Funny-looking in a beautiful way! How interesting…like new-born human babies? Absolutely fantastic, like seeing our grandchildren!

Did you observe that the house looked so clean…just hatched yesterday, yet no egg shells were seen in the nest? Parents must have cleaned up the mess, to provide comfort and safety…! How amazing! Parental love is simply marvelous!

We’re terribly happy for the new parents - what a great success, two babies! Congrats, Mama and Papa! Well done!

Even as I update on my iMac this wonderful event that is unfolding in our garden outside, I get to see the frequent arrival of the parents bringing food, as they perched briefly on the hanging pots, enroute to the nest. How awesome! And, I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness and gratitude! God has blessed us with a very special gift, indeed! Praise the Lord!

Update: June 14, 2008
AT 5 DAYS OLD - PARTIALLY FEATHERED NESTLINGS! SO SWEET!

Today, the protective parents chased off a predator bird (not sure whether it was another bulbul or some other kind of bird) as it happened too fast for me to catch a good look. Heard some noisy commotion outside that sounded like the loud, incessant alarm call of the parents and by the time I ran towards the sliding glass door to get a peep, I was just in time to get a glimpse of the tail end of the harrowing incident. Nonetheless, the victorious parents returned immediately, hovering around and seemed agitated and restless for almost about half an hour.

John says that the nestlings will be exposed to the many probable dangers within our garden compound too. Aargh!! Likely predators are the rats, squirrel, monkeys, garden fence lizards and cats that prowl around. Even other larger birds such as the crows, starlings and minors that perch or roost on the many large trees nearby pose a threat to these poor little sweet nestlings. I pray that everything will end well for them, that the parents will successfully raise their offsprings to fledglings unharmed.

Update: June 17, 2008
AT 8 DAYS OLD - ALMOST FULLY-FEATHERED NESTLINGS! SO CUTE!

Wow! Amazing to behold them almost fully-feathered so soon! Just 3 days ago, they were ’semi-nude’ as seen in above photos!

The nestlings are getting stronger by the day, getting ample food from their parents. It is a wonderful feeling watching the parents bring food to feed the young. They fly in and out so frequently and it’s a joy seeing them from where I sit facing my iMac. Too bad, they don’t allow me to go near to have a glimpse of them actually feeding their brood, hence no captures of such to share here.

The second I am sighted, the one brooding or feeding the babies would leave the nest and join its watchful and protective lover who had already stationed itself nearby, either on the White Mussaenda bush or hanging pots. Then together, they would make a lot of rattling sounds to show their displeasure! Anyway, I normally refrain myself from looking in too often so as not to fluster the parents unduly.

Sometimes, I do wonder why this species of bird so often nest near human activities. Is it because they feel more secure? Yet, why are they so agitated when we’re around? I suppose it’s a natural protective trait inherent in parents, regardless whether human or animal!

Update: 2008-06-18
FLEDGLINGS ON THE 9TH DAY! WHAT A SURPRISE!

I hadn’t realized that this is the day to bid them all farewell. Anyway since these nestlings were almost fully feathered, I prepared myself for this nest-leaving eventuality by surfing the net yesterday for some answers and read that fledging typically begins within 5 hours of sunrise and in most cases nestlings fledged before noon.

I was not going to miss this one-in-a-million chance happening. Thus, this morning around 10 am, I took a seat behind the half-drawn curtains, slowly gulping down my breakfast mug of rolled oats and waited. It didn’t take long for the parents to announce their arrival with their usual bubbling chatter as they landed on the hanging pots of orchid canes. I sat immobile immediately and watched. The female (I assumed it was) flew in, perched close by the nest and made soft cooing sounds and movements as if beckoning the young nestlings to fly and imitate it. One hopped up onto the rim of the nest and stretched out its wings, one at a time. Then, it flew out of my view, probably nearby. I waited for the second nestling to do the same but nothing happened. Curious, I stepped out from where I was hiding. Too late…my sudden appearance triggered the parents to take flight immediately, as well as followed by the baby bird that had flown onto one of the hanging pots!

All these happened within less than 10 minutes. Wow! So that’s how a baby bird is fledged, coaxed to imitate the parents! What an awesome event to witness. I was amazed of the fledgling’s instantaneous ability to fly! And so abrupt a departure that I felt its absence or loss immediately.

What has happened to the other baby bird? Yesterday’s image also showed only one, where was the other? I hastily related to John about the whole event that I had just witnessed. He said that usually the whole brood will fledge and leave altogether with the parents, probably the other is…? Refusing to believe the worst had happened, I ran outside with the ladder. Its head was not showing. As the parents and its sibling were nowhere to be seen, I quickly climbed up to check. Thanks goodness, it was comfortably tucked inside, starring at me, looking a little off weather though. Brought my camera up-close to have a last capture before it flies away. Fly the baby bird did but just a few meters away, unlike its sibling that had flown away, guided by their parents. It allowed me a few snapshots, before it flew to our driveway aimlessly. Meanwhile, the parents had returned and perched above the high tension cables, watching but seemed to do nothing. Occasionally flying about but seem indecisive, probably the other fledgling needed their attention too.

Ten minutes had passed, yet the little one was still motionless on our driveway, appearing so lost and exposed to harm. A wasp flew close by, I observed with fear. What if…? So, I approached nearer with the intention to put it back into its nest but the little birdie flew into our neighbour’s front yard which is void of any vegetation. Oh dear, what have I done? Seemed to be going from the frying pan into the fire - another short flight will lead it straight into a dog’s house in the next neighbour’s yard. I’ve no way of reaching it. Where are you, parents? Can’t you see your baby baking in the sun? Oh dear, I think they can’t see…another 15 minutes gone by! It stayed motionless at the same spot, not knowing to hop into the shade as we thought it would. Images of trapped rats dying in the heat of the sun flashed in my troubled mind. What should I do? I felt helpless! A humbling moment for me. “Lord Jesus, please help. My fault, I’m so sorry. Please, Jesus…help me”, I prayed fervently.

Knock, knock! I called out to my neighbour from behind our backyard and requested her help to get the baby bird from her frontyard and pass it to me through the chain-link fence, separating us. Gotcha! A small squeak from the fledgling drew the parents’ attention hovering high above. That’s great.

Oh, what a wonderful and thrilling feeling as I held the fledgling tenderly in my right palm (my first time ever), gently stroked it and returned it into the nest. It refused to stay put, instead flew down and landed at the bottom of the pot and stayed motionless and seemingly weak. Poor thing, must have been the sun stoke. All because of my carelessness, I felt so guilty. Ten minutes slowly passed before I lifted it up gently and brought it out in the open for the parents to view. Then, I purposely left it on a potted palm amongst other shaded plants in our garden, and quickly retreated inside our home out of sight. The parents flew in swiftly to take over - searching, pacifying and tending their baby with soft soothing noises, eventually feeding and strengthening it. I could hear and see most of their activities from inside, and was confident that everything will be alright from now on. Oh, I’m so happy and comforted at last!

Rain poured in about an hour and a half later, but we were convinced of the parents’ expertise and know-how. True enough, when the rain stopped, we peeped through our front entrance/exit door and saw that the fledgling was nestled cozily on our hanging pot of Spider Plants at our porch, sheltered from the rain. How smart they were to have coaxed their baby to fly to a safe destination, about 8 meters away from where I left their young. Amazing!

When no more cooing or chattering noises were heard eventually, we knew that the parents have succeeded to fledge the second baby bird, around 4 pm. Almost 6 long hours for the second fledgling whereas the first fledgling took less than 10 minutes. Delay due to my folly which I deeply regretted.

Nonetheless, I’m most delighted that all ended well. Miraculous, indeed! Both the parents and their brood have finally left their nest for good. All dearly missed!

FAREWELL, MY SWEET DARLINGS! GROW WELL AND BE SAFE!
TO THE PARENTS, I SALUTE YOU WITH FLYING COLORS!

My heartfelt prayers have been answered. Thank you so much, Lord God.

Oh, what a priceless and extraordinary experience! To watch personally the breeding process of the White-browed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus luteolus) right through, from nest-building to laying and hatching of eggs, then nestlings to fledglings and to hold a baby bird in my palm…truly awesome and astounding! I feel so blessed, thankful and grateful indeed!

Update: 2008-06-20
Parents abandoned nest with their fledglings two days ago, yet one of the parents returned this morning to perch briefly on the hanging pot of orchids which had been its daily stopover for nearly a month. It flew in for a few seconds around 9.30am and returned again an hour later with some feed in its beak, searched for its young briefly before taking off again. Very strange behaviour? Was there a brief moment of memory loss, I wonder? Pray that everything is fine and fledglings are safe!

Update: 2008-07-01
Enjoy a life poster of the birds’ breeding event.