A Garden Paradise

I was fascinated to read an online report about a couple in the U.K. who have transformed a half acre patch of scrub into an avian paradise.

Within this coming year I intend purchasing around 5 acres of unspoilt Arunachala Countryside, in order to create and develop such a bird haven. In this respect in my current home, I have already started growing young trees favoured by both indigenous and migratory birds to this area, for replanting on the land once identified and acquired.

If readers of Arunachala Birds have experience in creating happy bird environments, or would like to share ideas or information on such an endeavour, I would be VERY happy to hear from you. Please email me at the address on the top of the left column of this page.


The report from the U.K. goes thus:-

“With just a lawn, no feeder, and few perches, to most birds the bare patch of land – was hardly worth even a flying visit.



The Idyllic Bird Paradise


But after six years of green-fingered nurturing, the bare half acre patch of land has been transformed into an avian paradise for a huge variety of species. Which includes peregrine falcons, barn owls, kestrels, pheasants, woodpeckers, nightingales, doves and swallows.



Left to Right:
Sparrow Hawk, Woodpecker, Pheasant


This bird paradise has five distinct zones – which includes a flower area, pond, vegetable patch, as well as shrub and herb sections. In addition there is a bird bath, a wood pile and an unkempt area of pignut, wild red clover and wild fennel – ideal for honey bees. There are also hedges of hawthorn and blackthorn, with willow and conifer trees, home to several ring-necked doves.

Left to Right:

Doves, Blue Tits, Woodpecker

In the first hour of their latest bird census, 27 species alone were recorded visiting the avian paradise.”


Left to Right:
Green Woodpecker, Heron

Rose Ringed Parakeet

The Rose Ringed Parakeet, also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species. This bird measures on average 16 ins in length including tail feathers with the tail accounting for a large amount of the bird’s total length. The wing span of the bird is around 5.9–6.9 ins.

Male on right, female bird on left

There are observable differences between the sexes of this species. With the adult male sporting a red neck-ring and the hen and immature birds of both sexes either have no neck rings, or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck rings

The bird, commonplace all around the Arunachala area, can often be found banded in large flocks. Its call is a loud, sharp, screaming 'keeak, keeak, keeak' uttered both at rest and while flying. Its flight is swift and direct, with rapid wing beats.

This species is one of the most familiar of Indian birds, as much at home in the countryside as within villages and towns. The non-migrating Rose Ringed Parakeet is one of the few parrot species that has successfully adapted to living in 'disturbed habitats', and in that way has withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation.

In the wild, Rose-ringed parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds. Wild flocks also fly fly miles to forage in farmlands and orchards. This species feeds extensively on pigeon pea (Toor Dhal) during winters in India.

The Rose Ringed Parakeet's nesting season, which varies locally, is chiefly February to April. Its nest is generally a natural hollow in a tree-trunk, or one excavated by the birds themselves. Holes in rock scraps and walls of buildings, ruined or in occupation, often within noisy towns are freely utilized.

This bird lays 4-6, pure white, roundish oval shaped eggs. Both sexes share all domestic duties.

Lesser Golden Back Woodpecker

I started to want to know more about this interesting looking bird, after I had seen the Woodpecker at various agricultural farms around Tiruvannamalai.

The Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker or Black-rumped Flameback is a Woodpecker commonly found in Tiruvannamalai District and although mainly frequenting agricultural areas, it can also be seen in wooded urban areas.

Such a Long Way to Climb

This bird is large around 26–29 cm in length. Its rump is black with white underparts and dark chevron markings. The adult male Black-rumped Flameback has a red crown and crest. Females have a black forecrown spotted with white, with red only on the rear crest. Young birds are like the female, but duller.

Woodpecker Preening

Its call is like a loud, harsh, chattering laugh uttered mostly when flying. As is common with woodpeckers, this species dips in flight.

My Friend's Tiruvannamalai Farm

Playtime with Friends

This bird has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks and four-toed feet for traction on trees, with two toes pointing forward, and two backwards. It has a long tongue which it darts forward to catch insects.

Catching Insects: Notice the Four-Toes

This Woodpecker flies from tree to tree, finding food, starting from the bottom of the tree to the top. The bird works up on the stems of old trees, tapping them to find rotten and hollow wood and then drilling holes to ferret out insects hiding within. This bird also feeds on ripe fruits and sometimes flower nectar. The species is normally seen in pairs or small parties and sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Checking out a Nest

Breeding season is between March and August. A nest is usually excavated in a tree with a horizontal entrance descending into a cavity. Sometimes the Woodpecker takes over the nests of other birds. The normal number of a clutch is three glossy china-white eggs which hatch after about 11 days with both parents sharing domestic duties. The chicks generally leave their nest after about 20 days.

Safe and Resting

For more photos and videos go to this link here.

Common Tailorbird

The Common Tailorbird is an Asian songbird common throughout Tiruvannamalai District. This passerine bird is typically found in open farmland, scrubs and gardens. Its song is a loud cheerful towit-towit-towit.

Adult Bird [Photo: J.M.Garg]

It is a small restless bird olive-green in colour with whitish underparts, a rust coloured crown and two elongated pinpointed feathers in the tail. The Common Tailorbird is insectivorous and is particularly attracted to insects and grubs at flowers and also favours flower nectar.

The Tailorbird gets its name from the way its nest is constructed. The passerine bird has a long pointed beak with which it makes tiny holes in leaves. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider silk to make a cradle in which the actual nest is built.

Stitched Nest

The nest is a deep, soft cup lined with soft materials and is placed in thick foliage and the leaves used to hold the nest have the upper surfaces outwards so that the nest is difficult to spot. It is said that only the female stitches the leaves of the nest.

Nest with young

A juvenile bird

Eating insects at flower buds

This bird’s breeding season is March to December peaking from May to August. The usual clutch is 3-4 eggs reddish or bluish white in colour. The incubation period is about 12–14 days with both male and female feeding the young, and the young birds fledgling in around 14 days. Mortality of eggs and chicks is high due to predators.

Tailorbirds roosting on my verandah

The birds roost alone during the non-breeding season but may roost side-by-side during the breeding season.The roost sites chosen are thin twigs on trees with cover above them and close to human habitation and lights.

This bird is fearless and the Tailorbirds currently visiting my verandah move around within feet of myself and my large dogs as they have taken a particular liking to the above plant for their night-time perch.

To view videos, audios and more photos of the Common Tailorbird, go to this link here: