Hoopoes return to breed in Taiping

A hoopoe flying back to its nest to feed its babies in May.

THE pair of hoopoes (Upupa epops) that nested and bred three fledglings at Taiping Lake Gardens in May has bred more young.

Taiping Municipal Council president Khairul Amir Mohamed said a team of observers had heard noises of hatchlings from the same nest where three young birds were bred earlier.

“The adult birds were spotted mating about a week after the last fledgling flew out of the nest in the middle of May.

“The birds returned to the nest in early June to breed,” he said.

“We are not sure how many young birds are there for now.

“They are expected to come out from the nests in about three weeks’ time,” he added.

The pair of adult migratory birds, which fly to warmer climates during winter ---between September and April --- were first spotted at the lake gardens in early April.The three young birds flew out of the nest between May 14 and 17.

Khairul Amir said the adult birds were now busy flying in and out of the nest in search of food to feed their babies.

He said their diet included guppy fish, grasshoppers, ants, spiders, worms, larvae, small lizards and cockroaches.

“Our employees are recording their movements from morning to evening.

“We are also keeping an eye on the area at night, with enforcement officers patrolling the lake gardens to ensure no one enters during the current phase of the National Recovery Plan,” he said.

“The council will continue working with a few entities, including the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and Nature Educational Society (NEST), assisted by the Taiping Birding Community to conduct research on the birds,” he added.

Khairul Amir said the council had high hopes that the birds would make Taiping their new home.

“According to Taiping Zoo and Night Safari director Dr Kevin Lazarus, the birds’ behaviour showed that they had taken a liking to the safe environment at the lake gardens.

“But it is hard to predict whether they will stay here for the long term because they are migratory birds.

“If their population increases, it will become a new attraction for visitors and bird enthusiasts,” he added.