Monday, August 5, 2013

Hornbill Happenings: Surprises From Nature

PHOTO: Rufous Hornbill - Hornbills pair for life and have an unusual breeding behaviour.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdrFxZvLyYwza5r9Q0pjXbSpS6kpgV89rNBBrZmqfZ8yHeHEgUUNgynMdhJgDNvbzrUQxNhxe7liuqTtyrzJRLMrwf3RZqiFfEfVmiaTwWpqXOnxGOsVIeu6ssCg8T_L7i1gMATRY0lD_/s1600/Buceros_hydrocorax_mindanensis.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Buceros_hydrocorax_mindanensis.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buceros_hydrocorax_mindanensis.jpg


Hornbills pair for life and have an unusual breeding behaviour. The female hornbill seals herself into the nest box for 90 days or more when breeding. While confined, she depends on the male to return daily to feed her and the chicks. The nestlings and female are fed by the male through a narrow vertical slit in the sealed nest opening.


Palawan Hornbill - female hornbill depends on the male to return daily to feed her and the chicks.
PHOTO: Palawan Hornbill - female hornbill depends on the male to return daily to feed her and the chicks.
Posted by dennis e. sebastian on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 10:03 PM
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http://kmanimatedshort.blogspot.sg/2011/08/hornbills.html


When the male fails to return, either hunted down by poachers or killed by other preys, the female in the nest will not accept food from any other males. It will not accept food from human beings. In this respect, hornbills are good icons for family values such as loyalty and responsibility.


Hornbills are good icons for family values such as loyalty and responsibility.
PHOTO: Hornbills are good icons for family values such as loyalty and responsibility.
http://referencereference.blogspot.sg/2011/07/birds-i-horbills-i.html


Unfortunately the female hornbill's brain is "programmed" to either die with the chicks (commit suicide), or leave the nest and abandon the chicks.


Hornbill picture from Singapore Jurong Bird Park
PHOTO: Kids World at Singapore Jurong Bird Park
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU84PfzwgsospmhNJf5T_fDZWhbcMe1GlCra8kfEt84Hb5PJ2nxTDX38kR6KxtUsHI8LXs_HJ0uxlJ1nr3RTwuyGo06L5O6M4do7QodaErYmxnRudYw_aNimaqh6TTbEO8OzGwYBOGApR/s1600/CIMG3884.JPG
 


Reference
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