OTHER NAMES:- LIGHT VENTED BULBUL
In the wild the Chinese bulbul is a common bird of the forest edge, scrub, mangrove and gardens across S.E. Asia, southern and central China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
According to the literature I’ve been able to find on this bird, there are three sub species.
SINENSIS SINENSIS: - About 7.5 to 8 inches in length, olive back &wings. A black crown with a broad white stripe going around the nape from the back of the eye. It has black moustachial stripes and a white throat. A greyish bar across its breast, off white belly and a white vent. It’s feet and legs are black, its eyes are brown and its beak is also black.
This species is apparently one of the most common birds found in Hong Kong and winters in NE Tonkin.
SINENSIS S HAINANUS: -Lacks the broad white band around the nape. It has an olive yellow band in its wings and tail feathers. Other than that it is similar to the other race.
It is found in S Guangxi, SW Guangdong and Hainan.
SINENSIS S FORMOSAE: - I found no description of this bird only its range.
Resident in Taiwan & nominate through central, eastern and southern China.
I obtained my birds in 1999 and they were placed in a 6ftx7ftx7ft planted aviary with a 6ftx3ft indoor flight.
The birds were fed fresh fruit (skewered on a nail, in the inside flight), Orlux universal softbill food, Orlux insect food, Orlux moist canary softfood, Nutriluxe dried berries and spongecake. Livefood was given in the form of squats (small maggots), mini and regular mealworms. The birds also caught insects in the aviary, catching insects in flight, like a flycatcher. Sitting on a perch then darting after the flying insect and catching it in mid-air.
The cock was seen displaying to the hen, it would hold its wings out to the side and sing its loud chattering call. Not the best songster of all. A nest was built-in a wicker basket, from coconut fibre, but no eggs were laid.
In May 2000 whilst feeding the birds I noticed the hen come out of a half-open fronted nest box. So I entered the flight to see what was happening. In the box was a wicker basket (which I had placed there at the end of last years breeding efforts). In which was a deep cup built out of coconut fibre, with three oval, pinkish, blotched with purple, eggs. These were incubated for approx. 14 days by the hen. The cock would sit on a perch opposite the nest box and call the hen off the nest when I approached the aviary.
Two eggs hatched, the chicks were pink and naked. They were fed by both parents. Feathers were soon visible under the skin. When the young were about six days old I had to return to work, (I work away on a regular basis so the wife has to look after the birds. So some detail iedates, age, etc are somewhat patchy.) Some days later I received a phone call to let me know that the chicks had left the nest but had not been seen for a day or two.
When I returned home the hen was once more sitting on three eggs. A similar pattern followed: - eggs hatch-birds feed young – I go back to work, birds leave the nest & disappear!!!
The birds went to nest for a third time, again three eggs laid, hatched & left the nest at ten days old, not fully feathered. This was the problem, as the flight was not covered & we were having plenty of rain the young were getting chilled & dying. This time my wife placed the young in the inside flight where the adults fed them for a few days but again no joy.
The birds went to nest for a forth time at the end of July, beginning of August. Three eggs were laid & two young hatched. The day before I went away for a fortnight’s holiday the young fledged again at ten days old, before being fully feathered. I told my neighbour, who was feeding the birds not to worry if the young disappeared. As luck would have it the weather was on his side, there was a good two weeks dry spell and both birds were flying around the aviary on my return. Although my neighbour puts it down to all his T.L.C.
The young were smaller than the adults. They had a duller black cap & a grey breast bar. They stayed with the adults who showed no sign of aggression even when they tried to go to nest again, but I took the nest box away.
The birds were fed fresh fruit skewered on nails, orlux universal food, mixed dry berries, orlux insect food, orlux moist canary food, sponge cake & various livefoods (squats, mealworms reg & mini ). The birds also took insects in the flight often diving from a perch like a flycatcher.
I lost one youngster as it went through the moult. So my first success at breeding softbills although pleasing could have been a lot better.
In December checking the birds at dusk, after returning from a stint at work I could only see one bird in the flight and two holes in the aviary roof. (This roof was not made from plastic coated wire). I was now left with one young cock Chinese bulbul. So not only did I learn about the trials of rearing softbills, but that good aviary management is a must.
Feel free to get in touch with any further questions.
Phil Hargreaves: phargreaves@hotmail.com
