Singapore Botanic Gardens 24-25Dec09

From KH on 24 Dec

The Malayan Night-heron was still opposite the Orchid Garden and was almost out in the open. I spent 15 mins with it, always within 2 m from it. 300 mm does super nicely - I can't get the whole bird into the frame! Within this time, it just minded its own business, feeding on fat juicy earthworms. All the while, passing tourists were looking at the xmas trees there, oblivious that there's an MNH staring at them!

Soon a photog came by and told the passing tourists about the bird. As the crowd gathered, it just slowly strolled into the undergrowth. Unbelievable!

From GC on 25 Dec

Observation: the Malayan Night-heron hunts earthworms by walking slowly. It may be able to sense the vibrations of the worm as it tunnels through the earth? Once it thinks it sees something, it would look intently at the ground for the slightest movement. Once it sees just the tip of earthworm above the ground, it would seize the earthworm by whatever little part of the body it can grab and expertly pull the wriggly fella staright out of the earth. The earthworm may be left wriggling frantically on the ground for a few seconds before it is swallowed whole, wriggling through the bird's esophagus!

It is amazing how many earthworms it can catch in a short span of time. And we humans don't even see the worm at all. Maybe the worms poke their body a little above the ground just to breathe? or to excrete? or to bring up dirt as it excavates?