Hectic finishing of the 2nd week of internship (Thursday Edition)

Yesterday was a pretty hectic day for me. First I had to show an elderly Australian birding couple around the TBG on barbet nest sites, then return to this tall Camphor nest tree to learn how to distinguish the male and female adult barbets [currently incubating three eggs - to be hatching in a day or two].

Afterwards, I could only envious watch my co-workers operating our custom-made barbet catching net (mist net wrapped around a metal loop, and then taped onto an extendable pole) to capture and tag the adults from another nest tree [currently feeding two nestlings - to be leaving nest in a week or two]. Then it was back to the office (for me) to analyze data.

My co-workers caught the female adult yesterday. So today, they focused on the male adult. Catching the male was pretty difficult since it feeds the nestlings from the hole entrance - so it was being cautious at all times. The best method is to wait until the parent barbet fully enters to nest cavity so that we can place the net right outside the hole to block their exit. Sadly, it didn't happen with this male.

After waiting for more than six hours, they finally had good news and brought the male back to the office for measurement and analyses. After finishing the measurements and bring it back to its capture site, the male adult seemed to be stressed and wasn't able to fly too well. During flight, it accidentally landed in the Lotus Pond and grabbed a Water Lily stem before falling into the water.

Wet Muller's Barbet.

Thinking that it might not be a good idea to leave a wet bird overnight, we decided to bring it back to the office, dry it, and release it back first thing in the morning. Therefore, I was in the office before 7:00-am this morning. Yawn. I will tell today's story tomorrow.
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