Oriental Pied Hornbill

Back in late 2008, The long- lost oriental pied hornbill

recolonised in Pulau Ubin, after many years of absence

from Singapore. Shortly after, in early 2009, sightings of

the bird spread to the mainland. Most of them were at Changi.

I did see a pair there, in that same year. But now 3 years later

the hornbill is very widespread here.

Every morning, about 9 - 9.30 am, a noisy group of

4- 6 birds would gather in the trees at Upper Seletar reservoir-

which is all the way to the North of Singapore! Though they

stay high up in the canopies, they are easily heard and

located. A very good spot to look for them is right at the

car park (B) ! A group of 4 oriental pied hornbills gather

in the rain trees directly above the car park.

In fact, the hornbills have spread even more recently

and there have been sightings of them in Bukit Timah,

in the centre of Singapore. The birds seem to be doing

pretty well and they are surely getting more common.

The reason this species is able to recolonise here

in Singapore where it previously went extinct is probably

that it is adaptable. It is one of the only hornbills that does

not require a pristine forest habitat. However, others that

live in Malaysia and Borneo are very vulnerable to global

extinction : if the forests disappear, they will vanish too.. ...