Video of red-breasted parakeet family captures hearts of nature lovers
A 28-second video clip showing a family of red-breasted parakeets with an unexpected cameo has caught the eye of of bird lovers and curious scrollers alike.
The video - which bears the caption, "Jalan Bukit Merah 05July2025 10.37" - opens with a shot of the backs of several people facing an HDB carpark. They appear to be wildlife photography enthusiasts, some of whom are armed with cameras fitted with the long lenses favoured by nature photographers.
Someone who appears to be a bystander turns around, and it is Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing. He speaks briefly to a person in the group before disappearing from view. There is nothing in the video to indicate what he was doing there.
The video then cuts to a mobile phone screen showing the family of parakeets - an adult and three nestlings occupying a tree cavity - before zooming in to the tree cavity housing the nestlings.
The video was uploaded on the public Facebook group, Singapore Wildlife Sightings, on Saturday (July 5) by Facebook user Qinglai Su. The video has since racked up 248,000 views and 2,300 reactions, and has been shared more than 240 times.
There are also 150 comments, with many concerned the original poster's revelation of the nest's location would endanger the winged family, while others pleaded for the birds to be left alone.
"Don't put location la. Later someone go catch or abuse," said Mark Christopher Wang.
"So cute family pls leave them alone," added Simon.
Others like Muhd Sham Irul saw the funnier side: "Mother Bird to chicks: 'these are your local kaypoh (busybody) as you can see. I also don't know why they are so fascinated! First time see bird family, meh? Weird humans'."
Buck Low was sure the parakeet family would now be at the mercy of peregrine falcons, their natural predator.
"Aiyoyo. Now the peregrines know where to find them. Thanks to you all and the Internet!" he said.
Red-breasted parakeets are native to Southeast Asia, but not originally from Singapore. According to the Bird Society of Singapore's website, it is a "common introduced resident".
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