Hornbill family eats fruit on Newton tray return rack, feeds each other
In a heartwarming and rather unexpected lunchtime scene, a hornbill family turned heads at Newton Food Centre after they were spotted feasting together on top of a tray return rack.
Source: Sylvia Chew on Facebook
The delightful encounter was captured in a video shared on Facebook by 58-year-old caregiver Sylvia Chew, who witnessed the feathered gathering on 2 March and later posted it on 15 April.
Ms Chew told MS News she was enjoying her meal when four Oriental Pied Hornbills suddenly swooped in.
Source: Sylvia Chew on Facebook
Surprised at their arrival, Ms Chew began to take a video.
They gathered up one-by-one onto the top of a non-halal tray return rack.
Ms Chew believed them to be a family that lived in the nearby trees.
According to her, a hawker served the birds a plastic container containing cut fruit, placing it atop the rack.
Source: Sylvia Chew on Facebook
The hornbills quickly got together and enjoyed their free “buffet”.
Instead of bickering over the food as one might expect from animals, they instead actively shared the meal.
One hornbill with a large crest picked up a slice of fruit and passed it to another to eat.
Source: Sylvia Chew on Facebook
It later repeated the same action with another hornbill.
Source: Sylvia Chew on Facebook
Ms Chew said this “polite” showcase affirmed her theory that they belonged to the same family.
Netizen jokes that hornbills ‘not halal’
Facebook users were quick to comment on the charming video, with one calling the scene a “party” complete with free-flow food.
Source: Facebook
Another commenter jokingly agreed with the tray return rack sign that the hornbills were “absolutely not halal”.
Source: Facebook
One user did not find the presence of hornbills at Newton Food Centre a surprise due to its close proximity to the Istana.
“That was one of the places from which they were re-introduced to Mainland Singapore,” they wrote.
Source: Facebook
The Oriental Pied Hornbill once nearly went extinct in Singapore, but has made a remarkable comeback thanks to conservation efforts.
Conservationists installed artificial nest boxes in places like the Istana to encourage their breeding.
Hornbill at the Istana
Source: Chiez How via Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook
Also read: Hornbill dad feeds chicks nesting in Tanglin Halt tree, coughs up dead birds for them
Hornbill dad feeds chicks nesting in Tanglin Halt tree, coughs up dead birds for them
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from Sylvia Chew on Facebook and Facebook.
