CCK Park 20Jun11

From Danny

Glad to report the single juvenile WBSE has fledged (seven successful consecutive years). In the next couple of weeks, the adults will try to ignore and finally drive the youngster away. Incidentally, spotted a family of four Straw-headed Bulbuls including two youngsters. However, this patch of woodland will inevitably be affected by the forthcoming construction. The resident roosting birds like woodpeckers, bulbuls and a pair of Brahminy Kites will have to find new roosting grounds.

Earlier on 29 Apr, Danny commented on the nest:

Being a resident of CCK, this is the seven consecutive season observing this pair of WBSE. They have been nesting around CCK Park without failure for the last six seasons - the best year, there was a pair of juveniles. When I first started watching them, their courtship displays were daredevil talons clutching dives. Perhaps age has caught up, their recent romance were less dramatic but nevertheless loving. The nesting went through many trials like tree pruning by contractors, durian poachers and nature thunderstorms but at least one juvenile would fledge by August. The current nest is a re-use from last season, surviving the construction of Mia Casa condominium, a bare 25 m away.

I have refrained from earlier comment as my personal approach is to let the eagles do what they have done best while I pretend not watching. The current nesting tree is likely outside the perimeters of the proposed condo, in line with the nearby M. Casa,  closer to the service road which is the property of Mindef (possibly the only authority who cut tree but provide safe roosting sites for many birds). It is too late for the eagles to fall back to their reserve nest, and publicity has drawn the attention of the developer which I hope will not overdo it till the juvenile is fledged. However, the undue attention may attract ignorant public, like the infamous Pasir Ris Park user who plugged the woody nest hole with a bottle!  The Americans have a nice phrase for such behaviour - it's a free country!

I am quietly confident the Eagles will overcome the undue attention and stand their ground (nest) and make it seven in a roll. Let's give them the space while we pretend not watching.