Guest guest Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 ***************************Advertisement*************************** eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide http://www.star-ecentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my) URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/1/6/features/6869908 & sec=fe\ atures ________________________ Tuesday January 6, 2004 Breeding success Story and pictures by CHAN AH LAK HAVE you ever seen hundreds of birds roosting on a single tree? You can view this awesome spectacle at the Taiping Zoo in Taiping, Perak. Nestled in the Lake Gardens close to the foothills of Bukit Larut, the Taiping Zoo is home to a huge colony of black-crowned night herons. The night heron breeding programme is a success story of the Taiping Zoo which stretches over 14.4ha, making it the third largest in the country after Zoo Negara and Malacca Zoo. These birds were bred in captivity but are free-flying residents. They are not caged. During the day, they feed in surrounding ponds but return to roost on a particular tree in the zoo each night. The night heron breeding programme started in 1988 with a captive flock of 100. Each year, 20 hatchlings were released into the wild. These birds, however, did not venture far because food was available in the zoo. By 1998, all the captive birds had been released. Today, there is a resident population of at least 200 free-flying night herons. The black-crowned night heron is a stocky, relatively short-necked bird. It uses its long dagger-like bill to spear fish and other aquatic life while hunting in shallow water. Its black crown, grey upper body and white underparts give an overall impression of a black and white bird. However, its red eyes and yellow legs that turn red during the breeding season add touches of colour. The two long nuchal white plumes are distinctive in this bird. In contrast, the juvenile is brownish with buff streaks and spots. Athough its name suggests a nocturnal bird, the night heron is rather active in the day. In the mornings and evenings they can be seen foraging for food in big monsoon drains that run through Taiping town. The six ponds in the zoo are their favourite wading grounds. The night herons also frequent old mining ponds found in the outskirts of Taiping, for example in Kamunting. In Peninsular Malaysia, the night heron is associated with mangrove forests along the west coast, inland fresh water swamps and ricefields. It is rarely seen in the east coast. In the peninsula, the only breeding colony in the wild is in mangrove areas near Kuala Kurau in Perak. This colony was once nearly decimated by poachers. Regular patrols by the National Parks and Wildlife Protection Department have put an end to the illegal activity. As their wild habitat continues to dwindle, the Taiping Zoo provides the night heron with safe refuge. These communal birds nest on a tall tree in the zoo. All available space on tree branches are filled with birds and nests, turning the tree into a “heron condominium.” It is easy to find the “condo”. Just listen for the loud kuak kuak call emitted by adult night herons and the high pitched clicking sounds made by the chicks and you will soon be gazing up at an avian colony of ceaseless activity. Their nests are a flimsy affair of twigs. Some have birds incubating eggs. Others have hatchings in varying stages of growth, from newly-hatched downy chicks to well feathered juveniles, all waiting patiently for their parents & #8217; return. Chicks sometimes get blown down from their nests during severe storms, according to zoo veterinarian Dr Sandy Choong. These chicks are sent to other zoos. In the Taiping Zoo, the night heron breed throughout the year but peak from February to June and September to October. During these periods, the population swells to between 800 and 1,000 birds as former residents return to nest in several tall trees in the zoo. One reason for this prolific breeding is that they are fed every morning at about 10am with 20kg to 40kg of fish. As they are nocturnal birds, they are also fed at about 9pm. Visitors to the Night Safari will have a chance to see the birds feed. Captive animals will breed only if their living conditions are conducive. The night herons appear to have found such an environment in the Taiping Zoo and surrounding ponds.<p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2003 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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