White-breasted Kingfisher

This is a bird commonly seen around Arunachala, particularly around Samudram Erie, which gets nice and marshy during rains. This morning I had one of these birds sitting outside my garden - probably didn't come in because way too much competition from crows dropping by for breakfast, lunch and dinner . . . !!!. Yes, the colours are magnificent and authentic, the White-breasted Kingfisher REALLY does look like this.

The White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon Smyrnensis) is found on plains and lower hills all over India and is very common at Tiruvannamalai. This Kingfisher is not dependent upon water and although seen at ponds, puddles and rain filled ditches also habitates light forests situated considerable distances from water. From a favourite lookout on a telegraph wire or post, the Kingfisher pounces down on creeping prey and flies off with it to another perch nearby where the victim is battered to death and swallowed. This bird's food comprises; fish, tadpoles, lizards, grasshoppers, insects and occasionally young birds and mice

This Kingfisher is a beautiful bird that never fails to get attention. It is a brilliant turquoise-blue with deep chocolate-brown head, neck and underparts, a conscious white ‘shirt front’, and long, heavy, pointed red bill. A white wing-patch prominent in flight. It’s size is that between a Myna and a Pigeon. Both sexes are alike but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.

This is a large Kingfisher, 28 cm in length with a flight both rapid and direct with short rounded wings whirring. This bird has a loud musical frequently repeated chattering song delivered from a tree top or some exposed elevated perch. The call is a chuckling chake-ake-ake-ake-ake. This Kingfisher is noisy and territorial. Nesting season is principally March to July and generally takes place in a horizontal tunnel dug into the side of a dry earth cutting or tunnel. Eggs 4 to 7, white, spherical. Both sexes excavate, incubate and feed the young.

Marshy Land

During the last few weeks we have been experiencing spectacularly great weather, so much so that I have been roused to get up early in the mornings to take my 5 dogs out for a walk and run.

The dogs run, play, make a lot of noise and commotion and go along happily splashing around in the water of the pond and marshy ground.

It didn't take me long to notice that as soon as we appear in the morning, birds immediately congregate in the sky above waiting for the rich rewards of dragonfly breakfast - as swarms of insects are disturbed from their hiding place by my dogs' noisy play!

Loten Sunbird

Rani is a local woman who with her Swiss husband has a 3 acre compound off the Perumbakkam Road south of Arunachala. When the couple bought their land some years back it was just empty fields. Now it is well populated with indigenous trees and shrubs. Through intelligent tree selection, the garden is thriving in spite of often a severe water shortage during the hottest Summer months.

In the above photograph Rani poses in the outdoor tea shop she recently opened on her land. Below is one of her prized turkeys - a creature I have never previously seen here at Tiruvannamalai.

The next photographs are of Rani's garden, which are alive with the bird calls of many indigenous bird species.

But today am writing about this pretty Loten Sunbird who has built its nest hanging from the Cafe's bamboo roof.

In clearer detail a photograph of another Loten Sunbird.

Welcome

All enquiries and questions regarding birds and the environment at Arunachala are always welcome. Please get in touch using the email link at the top left column of this Blog.

Bird Watching

The most important point for bird watching is to remember that although birds constantly move about, their activity is greatest in the early mornings. This is also the time birds are generally more vocal and one can hear their songs.

In wooded areas birds often congregate in large assemblies where they mix in co-operative bands of mixed species, often in regular daily circuit. All the members of the association profits through the co-ordinated efforts of the assembly. While Babblers rummage amongst the fallen leaves for insects, they disturb a moth which is presently swooped upon and captured in mid–air by a Drongo on the look-out. A Woodpecker scuttling up a tree-trunk in search of beetles, stampedes numerous winged insects camouflaged upon the protectively coloured bark or lurking within its crevices, thereby sending out insects for a vigilant Flycatcher.

Banyan and Peepul trees when in ripe fig attract a multitude of birds of many species. A lively scene presents itself as the birds arrive, all eager to gorge themselves on the abundance of fruit around. Some of the best venues for bird watching are afforded by the Silk Cotton, Coral Flower, or Flame-of-the-Forest (Butea) trees in bloom. Almost every small bird of the surrounding countryside flocks to the blossom for the sake of the sugary nectar.

Another popular time to view birds is just after rain when winged termites are emerging from their nests. A termite swarm acts like a magnet upon the bird population. At such times, common birds found at Arunachala are in abundance: such birds; Crows, Kites, Kestrels, Crows, Owls, Mynas, Bulbuls, Sparrows, Bayas, Munias, Treepies, Drongos, Woodpeckers and Barbets.

Emerald Dove

STATE BIRD OF TAMIL NADU

Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps Indica
Green-winged Pigeon, Bronze-winged Dove

Main features: Medium (25cm), metallic green mantle, wings; head, underparts rich pink.

Male: Forehead, eyebrow, shoulder white; crown and nape greyish; bill red; feet crimson.

Female: Same as male but duller; forehead, eyebrow grey; crown, nape brown; white shoulder patch absent or indistinct.

Call: Described as a low cu-oo or tik-oo, repeated monotonously; soft deep tu-hoop.

In flight: Green wings and mantle contrasts strongly with reddish underparts; two distinct black and white bars on lower back.

World distribution: India across to China and the Philippines, Southeast Asia to eastern Australia.

Classification: Family Columbidae. World 310 species.

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The beautiful Emerald Dove is the official State Bird of Tamil Nadu. It is quite common but as its very shy and secretive, is rarely seen.

Emerald Doves feed on fallen fruit and seeds (including grass seeds, figs and bamboo). They also eat tidbits like termites. Unlike some fruit-eating birds, however, Emerald Doves destroy the seeds that they eat and don't appear to play a major role in plant dispersal.

This bird usually forages on the ground, mostly under tree cover. Sometimes, they cautiously venture out onto open grassland to forage, but will scuttle back into the undergrowth at the slightest hint of danger. They fly low and quickly, zipping in and out among trees and undergrowth. They also visit mineral seeps in the forest.

Unlike other doves, Emerald Doves forage alone, or in pairs. When several are drawn to a food-rich areas, each maintains a small feeding territory.

Pigeons and doves do not have well-developed oil glands, which in other birds are used to waterproof their feathers. Instead, pigeons and doves have special plumes scattered throughout their body which disintegrate to produce a powder which cleans and lubricates the feathers.

Breeding: Emerald Doves appear to have a limited breeding season from April to September. Like other pigeons, the nest is a flimsy platform, often simply leaf litter that gathers naturally in a palm frond, stabilised by a few twigs. A nest may comprise a large leaf lying on a tangle of creepers. They only nest in the forest or closed-canopy woodland, 1-5m above the ground. Males perform a bobbing dance during courtship.

1-2 white eggs are laid, but usually only 1 chick survives. Only the female incubates. The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and the young fledges in 12-13 days.

Migration: Although Emerald Doves may travel long distances to forage for food and are somewhat nomadic (following fruiting seasons), they are not migratory. They are found in lowland and montane forests, secondary growths, mangroves; also in cultivated lands.

Status and threats: Although Emerald Doves have adapted to feed in parks and agricultural land, they still require natural wooded areas to nest in. Because of their beautiful colouration and soothing call, Emerald Doves are often trapped and sold as cage birds.

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Pigeon's Milk
The most fascinating feature of pigeons and doves is their ability to produce crop milk. During breeding season, special glands in the crops of both males and females enlarge and secrete a thick milky substance.

The chicks drink this milk by poking their bills into the parent's throat. Thus, pigeons and doves can feed their young without having to incessantly hunt or forage for food. Instead of laying many eggs, they lay one or at most two eggs.