Wintering Raptors in Peninsular Malaysia - December 2019

Aside from waders, birds of prey are perhaps one of the most watched birds among birders. There are close to 26 species of migratory raptors that have been reliably recorded in Malaysia (Suara Enggang, Vol.19, 2011). Three most encountered raptor species over here are Oriental Honey Buzzard (almost 93%), Black Baza and Chinese Goshawk (Suara Enggang, Vol. 19, 2011). Peninsular Malaysia is an important transit point for migrant birds including raptors. Many migrating raptors passed through Peninsular Malaysia but some do winter here as well. There are three common migration routes used by these raptors (Suara Enggang, Vol.19, 2011) as do by some other migrating birds:

i) Eastern Inland Corridor - an overland route which starts from northern China snaking down through Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.

ii) Coastal Pacific Corridor - a coastal route starting from east China, passing thru Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.

iii) Oceanic Pacific Corridor - a route which uses the oceanic waterway from Japan, Taiwan, Philippine and Borneo.

All the above migration routes are part of a major route named East-Asian Australasian Flyway.

I was fortunate to come across a few wintering raptors recently. Most of them are OHBs and all of them were spotted in Kedah, a state in Northern Peninsular Malaysia. The most striking feature of raptors is in the variability of their plumage when view from below and their identification depends very well on our knowledge of their morphological and plumage characteristics. 

The above Oriental Honey Buzzard (OHB) is most likely an adult male orientalis showing dark eye, grey head and thick trailing edge on the wings. This OHB has only eight tail feathers and they were enough to take it across several continents to reach here. According to Robert DeCandido et al (2015), adults OHB usually migrate first before the juveniles which fly in from October onwards. I believe this OHB will stay around until March next year. By then, its feathers will probably molted well enough to prepare it for the long journey home. 

The OHB below has a gorget which almost covering its entire neck and face. 

Apparently there are three general plumage that can be observed on OHBs:

              i) Intermediate morph

                          ii) Light morph / rufous morph

iii) Dark morph

I think the above OHB could be an adult female orientalis from the intermediate morph showing partially grey head with light sub-terminal band. Note that this OHB has only 5 'fingers' as compared to the usual 6 'fingers'.

The above OHB should be an adult male orientalis from the dark morph. Aside from having dark eyes, male OHB shows dark primary tips and has boldly barred tail.

Watching raptors alone can be tiring. They can come from different directions - front, back, top, left and right. In one second they can be over the tree tops or beyond your eye sight. So your head will need to be constantly rotated 360 degrees. The OHB below appeared silently from my back.

I have some difficulty identifying the morph of the OHB below.

Could it be an immature "Western Honey Buzzard" or perhaps a sub-adult from the ruficollis race?

Note: it has 6 'fingers' instead

Aside from OHB, Black Baza had also 'subscribed' Peninsular Malaysia as their stop-over location. Apparently during the autumn migration, Black Baza is reported to migrate later than OHB. Hence they are most likely to be the last to depart as well (during spring migration).

Black Baza is the best dressed raptor in this world to me.

Generally the best moments to watch raptors are in the early mornings or late evenings. In between those times, here are a few conditions which can enhance your chances of watching them (based on my personal experience):

i) the sky should have some clouds and not just pure blue skies.

ii) some steady breeze should be present.

iii) when you can see some swifts / bee-eaters up in the sky.

Female Japanese Sparrowhawk

OHB and Japanese Sparrowhawks are reported to depart earlier than other raptors during the spring migration. The theory explaining this phenomenon was that they breed further up the equator and they need a head start to reach their breeding site in time for the breeding season. Female Sparrowhawks tends to fly higher than male but the above accipiter was seen just above the oil palm trees. Most likely it was just coming out from its overnight roosting area and was preparing to soar higher. 

I have read somewhere which says that some Crested Serpent Eagle are migratory raptors as well. 

Science without humanity is like a car without its accessories and tires !

HAVE A GREAT NEW DECADE AHEAD !

Parental Behavior - A Lesson from Nature

More and more cases of abused children have appeared in the media lately. Majority of the abuse cases have occurred from the very hands of their paternal parents. Some of these children may suffer psychological trauma throughout their lives as a result of the abuse while some have resulted in death (either voluntary or involuntary). In most cases child maltreatment occurs when parents could not adapt to the massive changes in their environment when resources are inadequate to cope with the demand of parenting. Battered-child syndrome are as likely to happen in one culture as another. 

How then does one culture protect children from abuse? Over in the eastern world particularly in this region, child bearing is often considered a 'community' project. The help of extended family, older children and other community could just help to mitigate/decrease pressure on parents. Child abuse is also rare in cultures where the mothers are not routinely isolated from other adults or what we termed as "social isolation". In another scenario a culture's expectation for the behavior of children may also protect against child abuse. The indigenous tribe of New Guinea, for example , believe that children are unable to reason before the age of six or seven. Younger children are thus rarely punished for misdeeds because they are not expected to know better. 

Parental behavior such as carrying, protecting, food sharing, grooming and playing in primates including those of the callitrichid species has been observed as similarly as human beings. In the study of primates, the development of an emotional bond of attachment with their mother (i.e distinguishing the mother from others, maintaining contact and recovering contact) has been extensively studied in macaques species. In macaque infants, they could distinguish their mothers from other females visually within a few days and tactually or auditorily in just a few weeks after birth (Rachel M. Williams, Ed. 2011). Macaque infants form attachments selectively for their mothers while infant marmosets may form attachments to their various caretakers. Unlike macaque mothers, common marmosets (both mothers and fathers) do not recognise their own infants, at least during the 1st few weeks after birth.

Recently i came across a bunch of monkeys (i mean real monkeys ! - long-tail macaque in this case) while strolling at a nearby recreational forest. I stopped for a moment to observe some of their parental behavior which perhaps some parents could emulate. Have a look at the photos below:

It started with a dose of fresh milk.

The mother then place the infant on a  branch. 

She sat close by to observe the child finding its way up the branch.

Occasionally she would hold the branch to ensure that its not too wobbly for the child to climb.

OK dear that is high enough. Let go back and watch doraemon at home.

Yay lets go !

Changeable Hawk Eagle (pale morph)

Soar like an eagle but stay humble like a lamb !


Mucho Gracias !