Fall in Love (Birding)

Sometime April 2007, Mr. Andy Choong (my boss) invited our team to joint him for a nature walk at Putrajaya botanical garden. He lends me his binocular (Bushnell 10X42). We then walk around the park see various type of flowers and plants. While walking in the park, he suddenly stopped and asked to use the binocular and look for a bird. It was very hard for me to justify the location where the bird is, as it is my first time using a binocular. After I tried for couple of times, then I managed to spot it.

It was stunning when I saw the bird. I’m speechless and I’m so amazed for the beauty of the bird which was yellowish in color with the black stripe at his eye (like a mask of Zorro. ha-ha!) and the feather was so fluffy.

Don’t know what to say la..... Mr. Andy told us the species and family of the bird, the common name is black nape oriole. I laughed as it sounds like Oreo biscuits I always had for my snack time…hehehe. From that moment of time, I already fall in love with birding and nothing can stop me anymore.

Black-naped Oriole - Dendang Selayang/Kunyit Besar (Malay)

Black-naped Orioles enjoy a wide menu of plants and animals. They are fond of fruit and berries, particularly figs. Besides large insects, they also take small animals, including nestlings. For this reason, during the breeding season of other birds, Black-naped Orioles are often chased away by other birds.

Black-naped Orioles rarely descend to the ground. They forage high in trees and usually say within the canopy. Nevertheless, they are not birds of the deep forest. Originally from coastal woodlands and mangroves, they have adapted to cultivated areas and parks and gardens.

Black-naped Orioles usually forage alone or in pairs. They are most active in the morning and evenings, making their melodious calls as they forage.