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| Golden Oriole. |
People may see the birders as aliens,
as these people can be seen even missing Sundays and wading through the bushes
and the forests just to catch one glimpse of the birds and sometimes just one bird.
There can be seen birders who are fully committed called as twitchers where as on the other hand we also have birders who may even not look beyond their backyard and yet call themselves as birders.
and the forests just to catch one glimpse of the birds and sometimes just one bird.
There can be seen birders who are fully committed called as twitchers where as on the other hand we also have birders who may even not look beyond their backyard and yet call themselves as birders.
Naturalist and conservationist V.
Arun said that investing in the garden equipments was very much important to attract
the birds.
He said not just big trees attract the birds but even some of the small flowering such as Hibiscus, Parijatham and Tacoma can attract the nectar loving birds as the sunbirds. But if you are rich with space then obviously one can use fig varieties of the trees as the Indian Coral tree to attract maximum flying species.
He said not just big trees attract the birds but even some of the small flowering such as Hibiscus, Parijatham and Tacoma can attract the nectar loving birds as the sunbirds. But if you are rich with space then obviously one can use fig varieties of the trees as the Indian Coral tree to attract maximum flying species.
Mr.
Arun says, “The Indian coral tree, with its bright red flowers, is an
awesome sight. Its ability to draw birds is unfathomable. During a visit to
Kerala, I noticed 25 bird species on a coral tree. And in Mumbai, I counted
over 400 rosy pastors on another. Mynahs roost in Mast trees (known as Ashoka
trees).”
On asking if all tress or bushy
plants would attract birds Mr Arun’s answer was, “Not necessarily……….Exotic
trees don’t make the cut. Birds gravitate towards greenery that they are
familiar with, and indigenous plant and tree species are the best bet to draw
them in great numbers. Naturalized species can serve as an alternative.”
K.V.R.K Thirunaranan of The Nature
Trust says that the naturalized species of the trees as the rain tree high are
the best in attracting the birds as the bark of these trees are a home of the
insects and the birds get attracted to these.
He further said, “Birds flock to trees for feeding, roosting and nesting, and the trick lies in understanding which trees meet these needs adequately. Mango trees draw golden orioles, and cherry trees, koels.”
He further said, “Birds flock to trees for feeding, roosting and nesting, and the trick lies in understanding which trees meet these needs adequately. Mango trees draw golden orioles, and cherry trees, koels.”
Naturalist T. Murugavel of
Environment Monitoring and Action Initiating give another valuable suggestion
in the context about the undergrowth and the litter of leaves. He said, “In an
attempt to have a clean garden, people remove the undergrowth and bushes.
This exercise only results in keeping out a number of beautiful birds, including babblers and robins. Birds find insects in leaf litter. By sweeping a garden clean, a food source is blocked out.”
This exercise only results in keeping out a number of beautiful birds, including babblers and robins. Birds find insects in leaf litter. By sweeping a garden clean, a food source is blocked out.”
Visit Bird Sanctuaries of Kerala in Kumarakom and Thattekkad ...
The investments required to make a
good garden to attract the birds are elements as the bird feeders and the
baths. A wildlife photographer P.
Ramanan says that to become an effective birder the one basic thing is to give
one’s ears to small tweets and the squeals in the garden.
The call of the birds can mean different signs. He says, “. Every time I hear a commotion in my garden, I rush to the window. Once, from my window, I noticed a shikra kite eating a gecko.”
The call of the birds can mean different signs. He says, “. Every time I hear a commotion in my garden, I rush to the window. Once, from my window, I noticed a shikra kite eating a gecko.”
Musician A.J. Mithra, who uses the
musical sounds to try and communicate with the birds, says seeing them react to
the sounds can be very much romantic for a birder. He added, “By looking in the
direction of a bird call, you watch the bird. Jot down the features of the bird
in a notebook. Refer to a field guide or the Internet and identify the bird.
Once the bird is identified, you can listen closely to its call, available on a number of websites, and get attuned to it. Through this rigor, you will master the twin aspects of serious birding — vocal and visual recognition of birds.”
Once the bird is identified, you can listen closely to its call, available on a number of websites, and get attuned to it. Through this rigor, you will master the twin aspects of serious birding — vocal and visual recognition of birds.”
