So Many Babblers!

They are many varieties of Babblers to clear up some confusion, I list some differences in two varieties of this bird species.

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Common Babbler

The Common Babbler is slim, earthy brown with upper plumage streaked darker. This bird can be easily identified from other Babblers because of its long, graduated, finely cross-rayed, loosely attached tail. It prefers dry open country and semi-desert with thorn scrub and shrubby vegetation. The Common Babbler feeds on the ground and scuttles along like a rat through thorn scrub and thickets, as it is loth to fly. It has a feeble flight which is comprised of a few rapid flaps, followed by a glide on outspread wings and tail.

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Yellow Eyed Babbler

The Yellow Eyed Babbler (of which there are three different varieties) is mostly a dweller of thorn scrub and grass jungle, commonly met in patches and separating cultivated fields. This bird be easily identified by the conspicuous orange-yellow ring around the eyes.

Salim Ali – Ornithologist

The most famous ornithologist of India, is Salim Ali (1896-1987) known as the "Birdman of India." Born as the tenth and youngest child of a Muslim family of Bombay, the lad was orphaned at the age of ten and was brought up by his maternal uncle.

Salim Ali was introduced to the serious study of birds by the Secretary of the Bombay Natural History Society, a Mr. W.S. Millard, which was to fuel Salim's pursuit of a career in ornithology. After a difficult early education at St.Xavier's College, Mumbai, he dropped out and went to Tavoy, Burma, which gave him the opportunity to develop skills as a naturalist and hunter.

In 1917, Salim returned to India, resumed his education, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology and in the following year married a distant relation. In 1926 he was hired as a guide lecturer at the History Section of the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai. In 1930, as the position of guide lecturer has been eliminated due to lack of funds, Salim moved to a coastal village near Mumbai, where he began making observations of the Baya Weaver bird.

He later undertook a systematic bird study of various Indian princely States, and with Richard Meinertzhagen, made an expedition into Afghanistan. Salim Ali was accompanied and supported on early ornithological surveys by his wife, who sadly died in 1939.

Salim Ali was very influential in ensuring the survival of the Bombay Natural History Society, the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and the Silent Valley National Park. In 1990, the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History was established at Anaikatty, Coimbatore aided by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests. Salim also took an interest in bird photograph with a friend Loke Wan Tho.

Ifyou are interested in obtaining what is regarded as the definitive compendium of Indian ornithology, you could do no better than purchasing a copy of Salim Ali, Book of Indian Birds.

Red Wattled Lapwing

The Red-Wattled Lapwing is a bird commonly found around Tiruvannamalai. Probably the most uncommon and distinctive thing about it, is its amusing and easy recognisable call, which sounds like a scolding, did-he-do-it; often uttered throughout the night.

In the below photograph you can easily see another curious thing about this bird which is its white V-shape wingbar prominent only while in flight.

This bird which is a large wader is often found at the banks of reservoirs and water catchment areas, and is in great numbers around the Samudram Lake area here at Arunachala.

Indian Roller

The Indian Roller, (Coracias benghalensis) is also sometimes locally called the Blue Jay, is a very common bird around Tiruvannamalai. And often seen around the area I live at, Samudram Lake. It is the twists and turns of this bird that has given it the name of Roller. It especially indulges in a spectacular courtship display, somersaulting and nose-diving in the air to the accompaniment of harsh, grating screams.

This beautiful bird builds its nest around March to July which is generally made from straw, rags and rubbish in a natural tree-hollow or a hole in a wall of a building. However, a couple of Rollers have just built their nest under the cover of my bamboo roof. Eggs laid usually number 4 or 5 and are glossy, white, roundish ovals.

On several occasions I have noticed the Rollers standing guard against predatory Indian squirrels and crows, who have threatened the nest. These birds have a reputation of fearlessness and will dive and roll not only at animal intruders but also at humans.

The Indian Roller is the size of a Pigeon, blue with biggish head, heavy black bill, rufous brown breast, and pale blue abdomen and undertail. But it is dark and pale blue portions of the wings that show up as brilliant bands in flight.

The Roller generally prefers open cultivated country and light forest. From a lookout on a telegraph wire or high spot, it pounces upon some large insect, frog or lizard on the ground, returning with it either to the same perch or flying to another. This bird is regarded as highly beneficial to agriclture as it destroys vast quantities of injurious insects to farmers.

Peacock

Those who have visited Arunachala have noticed the many Peacocks both at Ashrams and also found to be inhabiting Ramana Nagar. The term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. The Indian Peafowl is indigenous to the country and is designated the national bird of India.

The male (peacock) Indian Peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green coloured plumage. The so-called "tail" of the peacock, also termed the "train", is not the tail quill feathers but highly elongated upper tail coverts. The train feathers have a series of eyes that are best seen when the tail is fanned. Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant tail, which it displays as part of courtship. Peacocks don't develop their long trains until they are 3 years old and they molt the train yearly.

Males possess metatarsal spurs or "thorns" used primarily during fights. Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. Wild peafowl often roost in forest trees and gather in groups called parties. The female (peahen) Indian Peafowl has a mixture of dull green, brown, and grey in her plumage. Although she lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male, she does have a crest. Females can also display their plumage to ward off danger to their young or other female competition. The average lifespan of these birds in the wild is 20 years. The male size: Body, 35 to 50 in (90 to 130 cm); Tail, 5 ft (1.5 m) and Weight: 8.75 to 13 lbs (4 to 6 kg).

Colour in nature occurs due to two basic processes: pigmentation and structural coloring. Pigment is a substance that, like a dye, gives colour to living and inanimate objects. Peacocks and other structurally coloured animals and things, such as rainbows, soap bubbles and the blue sky, instead get most of their colour from light reflection. In peacock feathers, colour is produced by the reflection of light with frequencies within the partial photonic band gap. If you change the view angle, the partial photonic band gap will shift to short wavelengths for oblique incidence.

During mating season the bird will often emit a very loud high pitched cry, "may-awe, may-awe, may-awe." Peafowl are omnivorous and eat plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians. A peahen's clutch may range from 3—12 eggs, although 4—6 is average. The eggs are usually laid 2 days apart and in the later afternoon. Peafowl eggs take 28 days to hatch. The young are known as peachicks.

Peacock watching is highly entertaining, specially when Peacocks and Monkeys decide to ‘have a go,’ and in this respect recall a fascinating afternoon on a roof at Ramana Ashram watching squabbling peacocks and monkeys.

Baya Weaver

Walking around the partly dried out Samudram Lake, I spotted 3 Baya Weaver nests high up in an inaccessible thorny bush area. The Baya Weaver has been known to nest in trees with a hornet's nest or with the nests of fiercely biting Red Ants, so this bird is careful about protecting its home. Baya Weavers nest in colonies of up to 20-30, usually in trees near freshwater and open ground and is generally found in grassland, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growths usually near fresh or brackish water.

Baya Weavers eat mainly grass seeds and have large conical beaks to deal with their food. This bird forages in flocks, in grass as well as on the ground and flock flies in close formation, often performing complicated manouvres.

The Baya Weaver's nest is an architectural feat. It hangs from a palm frond or branch and looks like an upside down flask. The general features are a central nesting area with a long tube that leads to a side entrance. This tube makes it difficult even for snakes to enter the nest. Although they look precarious, most nests are very well attached and are impossible to remove without almost destroying the nest. The nests last well through the 3-month breeding season, sometimes even up to a year. After the breeding season, other small birds may roost in the abandoned nests. The nests are made entirely out of strips of grass which the birds collect by cutting a notch in a tall grass, then stripping off a 30-60cm length.

The birds’ breeding season is December-March. At this time, the males put on a brighter costume and they start to build their amazing nests. No stalks or entire grass blades are used. The birds then use their strong beaks to weave and knot the strips of grass. A newly-made nest is green with fresh grass and turns brown as the grass dries. A bird may make up to 500 trips to complete a nest.

The males are promiscuous and try to attract females by building several nests halfway. These half-built "male" nests look like motorcycle helmets complete with chin strap! A female bird first inspects the male's handiwork of a nest before signalling her approval to him. Once a female chooses to mate with him, he might finish the nest. But often, the female completes the nest.

When the female lays and is preoccupied with incubating the eggs, the male abandons her and immediately uses his other half-finished nests to woo a new female. Most males mate with two females, but sometimes three. The males defend his nests from other males. Meanwhile, the female is left to incubate and raise the brood on her own. 3-4 white eggs are laid and the nestlings are fed insects.

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.