Drumbeat

A shama competition had been scheduled to be held at Kim Keat this Sunday, 29th March, but it has been postponed to 5th April out of respect for Singapore's first prime minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew who died recently.

I had been preparing Drumbeat for the competition on 29th March. However, a few days ago, he shed a breast feather.  This could be the first indication that he is going into molt.  If so, his form will start to deteriorate and it will not be feasible to compete him.

In its first year, it is usual for a shama to molt twice.  Once, when it changes its feathers from juvenile to adult and then again before the expiry of 12 months from the date it hatched. Drumbeat is now about 9 months old so his second molt is due.

Apart from that one feather, he did not shed any more in the days thereafter so I have continued to prepare him for competition. If he does not shed any more feathers and his form continues to hold I will enter him for the competition on 5th April. This will likely be his last competition before I transfer him to an aviary to molt.

The video below is of Drumbeat this morning.  He is singing at home without being challenged by other birds.  It will be seen that his inner beak is still not black which would be the case if he is in top form.