Thunders

Today, we rescued another Muller's Barbet that flew into a window. It seemed to be a subadult since it doesn't have the fledgling feathers. We again measured and leg-banded it for research purposes. We will be releasing it tomorrow.

After the lab work, we headed back out to the field to retrive the surveillance equipments near the already-gone nests. We will be using them again for new nests soon. Then, we spent a good hour or so searching for the fledgling that we predicted will leave the nest soon. When we arrived, it had already left! It took us a long time to locate the little green bird in the tall thick trees. In the end, it flew way up the reach of our "scaring stick" and we gave it up. I think that when the parent has only one young to care for (parent to young ratio is 1:1) the young seems to be smarter and stronger, because for the previous two nests, the fledglings were all quite weak and poor flyers (and also not very smart). Not today's fledgling though.

While looking for the fledgling, an adult Malay Night Heron was enjoying the sunshine.

After dragging our tired bodies back to the office for a late lunch, it was almost time for my time at the observaton station. However, the clouds fortold a thunderstorm coming.

Indeed thunderstorms came! I saw and heard more than 10 lightnings and thunders in just a short half-an-hour. It was quite serious - especially being outdoors in the heavy rain. Soon, I decided to call it quits and headed back to the office.

After a while, the rain stopped and sunshine and clear sky returned again. Such is the life living on a tropical island.