Co-Director

Guess Who's
Checking My Work?

Was at the garden when a call attracted me.
Our newly planted 'wild banana' tree flowered and was fruiting.
The call sounded like the elusive Flowerpecker and I immediately went into the house to set up my camcorder.
After waiting patiently for half an hour, nope, the Flowerpecker did not show up. All these happened under the watchful eyes of our resident Olive-backed Sunbird whom we called "Sunny".

He zoomed in and sat on my rig! As if examining my camcorder to check for exposure settings!
Ha!Ha!

Yup. It is OK here.
And here.
Hey got sound or not?
OK... I'll go to the banana flower play acting yah? You get ready.
Lights, Camera........ACTION!

Happy Birding this Christmas yah?

Whoopie!

Our Very First
Wild Bird Seed Feeder!

While looking for washers to fit up my DIY Parabolic Microphone at Ace Hardware in the Ikano Power Centre, PJ, I was stunned to be starring at a Bird Seed Feeder! Please note that usually such feeders are never found here in this country or perhaps the whole of Asia! We were trying to buy one from the USA. They retail it for around USD 8 each but the courier charge of USD80 would put anyone off!
After looking around the section, I noticed some other feeders like the 'suet' type. There were 20 pieces. The suet ones are almost impossible to use because one have to use 'suet' cakes (made of hardened seeds,fruits,fats,vitamins...) In our hot climate, these would have melted down to the ground!
WHOA! this costs RM86.90, such high profit! It is made in China!
So we took the one and ONLY unit!
Luckily it was also adaptable for small and large seeds.
Yesterday, we went to a bird shop in Klang town and look for seeds. We had a hard time explaining to the boss about our wild birds. He has not heard of feeding wild birds with this kind of feeder before! We really can't blame him because all his customers are feeding CAGED birds!

There was a wide array and types of seed!
We chose the popular ones.
Because we have visiting wild birds, I would expect our resident Merbuks (Peaceful Dove) to feed from this feeder.
This would not be easy because the one made for the USA are for finches, Chickadees, Nuthatches and siskins. I would have to coax and lead our to new babies who are already taking flying lessons from the parents.
Our earlier DIY Nectar feeders are very successful and we have 3 of them. Topping the nectar every 3 days draws our five little sunbirds everyday.

Still working our way to feed our resident Magpies (7 of them) who roost here every night.

Could this be the ONLY wild birds seed feeder working here in Malaysia (or in Asia) right now?

DIY Nectar Bird Feeder for Sunbirds.

IT WORKS AGAIN!!!

This is the latest we have worked on our Malaysian Sunbird. Besides the earlier DIY nectar feeder, we went one step further. Just to see if our Sunbirds hovers like Hummingbirds.

So we made another nectar feeder but this time, we placed the flower sideways and without a standing-bar for the bird to sit and feed.

Yes our resident Olive-backed Sunbirds also feed this way. Although it do not do the unique Hummers' "Zippidy-Doo-Dah" actions, they hovers for a very short while but it was lovely seeing them feed this way.

Placing the camera very close and on 'camo-blinds' it was only 22 ins. away. We took shots via the remote controller. We took both stills and video. It came out excellent.

This is how we did our side-nectar feeder. We used a small (gladly recycled) mineral water bottle. Drilled a hole large enough to put in a drinking straw. We use a hot-glue gun to fix it up.
We then secure the artificial flower on to the straw.
Positioned it at an angle.
From the top, it look like this (on the inside).
Ta Dah! A side positioned Nectar Bird Feeder! FOC!

May I suggest that all of us Wild bird lovers do the same here and also in Thailand, Indonesia, Borneo and the Philippines since nectar feeders are not available for sale in these countries. It is a joy to watch them feed everyday. We top up the nectar every 3 days.

Just watch this newly shot Video which I have placed at You Tube.

Beautiful Bee Eater

Blue-throated Bee Eater
Merops viridis

Wow!
This is a new visitor to our home !
We have not seen it here before. Wondered why?
The bluish color with its long tail is nice. Although he is not the same bird in the picture, is he watching for insects at our new nectar feeder below?