A Mini Bird Sanctuary in my backyard – Part 1

My wife, Shailashri, is passionate about plants and gardens. Hence, she converted the empty plot behind our house into a mini garden. Besides fulfilling her passion, this garden served some vegetables for her cooking and flowers for my mother’s worship. However, we were surprised that this mini garden in our backyard would someday become a bird sanctuary. Some birds, such as pigeons, crows, mynas, and house sparrows, were endemic to our region. Recently, while pigeons have built a big colony under our water tank and become flying pests, the number of house sparrows has declined. I have noticed the eagles or hawks flying high up in the sky. Occasionally, migratory birds fly past us very high in the sky. Meanwhile, the noisy pandemonium of parakeets quickly flies past at lower altitudes.  

Photography was my passion. As an environmentalist and wildlife conservation enthusiast, I wanted to pursue wildlife photography. However, my busy schedule earlier didn’t allow me to. When I needed motivation for my morning walks, I resumed wildlife and bird photography. However, I didn’t have to go too far regarding birds. Due to the public park behind our mini garden or the proximity of Chandravalli, nearly 20 different types of birds were visiting our garden, making it a mini bird sanctuary.   

The importance and contribution of the birds to the Earth’s ecosystem are very well known. Now innumerable number of books and apps created by bird-watchers have made identifying these birds easy. We can recognize them through their pictures and their unique chirping sound. These birds have helped me a lot, personally. Other than providing constant sources of motivation for my morning walk, they have helped me to destress myself amidst my busy schedule and work tensions. When you walk with a purpose, and your heart is at peace, you enjoy supreme health! In addition, they have also helped me to master the nuances of wildlife photography. Now, I have permanently fixed a monopod on my balcony. Watching them flutter from plant to plant, feeding and playing, is great fun. Singing in distinct sounds, they create a superb orchestra. I watch and photograph them while brushing in the morning, between my surgical cases, and writing. They have enhanced my creativity, also. 

Here are the birds I have photographed in the last month, other than the endemic ones.  

The Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer): 

These birds have become endemic to our region. Now, there are hundreds of them around my house. They are the ones who wake me up in the morning. Known for its vocal nature, the Red-vented Bulbul has a range of calls and is often seen in pairs or small groups. They are a common sign in parks and backyards and adapt well to urban environments. Besides urban areas, they thrive in various habitats, including gardens, scrublands, and forests. They are medium-sized birds, about 20 cm long, easily recognizable by their black heads, brownish bodies with scaly patterns, and distinctive bright red patches under their tails. They are commonly found throughout the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Re-vented bulbuls are omnivorous birds, and their diet includes fruits, nectar, insects, and small invertebrates.  

Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma veronica)

Other birds that have fascinated me with their distinctive chirp and their hovering around the flowers and sipping the nectar are sunbirds. The Purple-rumped Sunbirds are small, nectar-feeding birds native to India and Sri Lanka, renowned for their vibrant plumage. The male birds have a striking appearance with a metallic green crown, bright yellow underbelly, deep purple rump, and maroon upper body, making them a favourite among birdwatchers and photographers. In contrast, the females are more subtly coloured, with olive-green upper parts, a white throat, and yellowish underparts, allowing them to blend into their surroundings while feeding or nesting. These active birds are commonly found in gardens, forest edges, and urban areas, often seen flitting rapidly among flowers in search of nectar.

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchurapunctulata):  

One type of small bird smaller than common-house sparrows but more agile for whom I greatly admire is the scaly-breasted Munia. A family of these birds have nested in our auditorium. These tiny birds are approximately 11-12 cm long. They can be easily recognized by their brown heads, brown underparts, and distinctive underparts marked with black fish-scale-like patterns. These birds are prevalent across India and Southeast Asia, inhabiting open grasslands, agricultural fields, gardens, and urban areas. Typically, we find them in small flocks. They usually feed on grass seeds and small grains. They have communal roosting behaviour. They integrate and adapt well in rural and urban environments, thus making them a common sight in various geographies. 

The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychussaularis)  

Another surprise visitor to our backyard was these medium-sized birds, with glossy black upperparts, head, and throat, contrasted with white underparts and a distinct white wing patch; females have a greyish-black head and throat. These birds inhabit various environments, such as gardens, forests, and urban areas. They are approximately 19-21 cm long and commonly found across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. Male birds are characterized by their rich, melodious songs, especially during the breeding season; their vocal mimicry and active behaviour make them a favourite among bird enthusiasts. Oriental Magpie-Robins are territorial and often perched in open spaces like fences or low branches. Their diet primarily consists of insects and small invertebrates, with occasional fruit consumption. They nest in tree holes or man-made structures, with both parents participating in feeding the chicks. 

Laughing Dove (Spilopeliasenegalensis)

A group of birds that I mistook earlier for pigeons were the Laughing Doves. Laughing Doves are small to medium-sized birds, about 25 cm long, with pinkish-brown plumage and a bluish-grey head and underparts. A distinctive black-spotted patch on its neck is a key identifying feature. These lovely birds are known for their gentle, laughter-like cooing sound; laughing Doves are often seen alone or in pairs, foraging on the ground for seeds and small insects. This species is commonly found in urban areas, gardens, open woodlands, and scrublands across India, Africa, and Asia. They are well adapted to human-altered environments, frequently observed in cities and towns.

Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum)

Another set of birds I had confused for common mina was the Brahminy Starling. They are medium-sized birds, about 20 cm long, easily recognizable by their distinctive black head with a long, shaggy crest, buff or pale brown body, and yellow bill with a blue base. It has pale blue eyes surrounded by bare skin and a short black tail with white-tipped outer feathers. Commonly found across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, this species prefers open woodlands, grasslands, cultivated areas, and urban environments. Omnivorous in diet, they feed on fruits, grains, insects, and small invertebrates. Brahminy Starlings typically nest in tree cavities, laying 3-5 eggs. Known for their social behaviour, they are often seen in pairs or small flocks, perched on wires, poles, or tree tops. Their calls consist of sharp, whistling notes, and they are active, noisy birds frequently found in urban areas, making them a familiar sight in cities and towns across their range.

The Pied Bush Chat (Saxicola caprata):

I love these tiny and cute birds. They are about 13 cm in length. Males are easily recognizable by their glossy black plumage with a distinctive white patch on the wing. At the same time, females and juveniles are brownish-grey with lighter underbellies, lacking the white wing patch and glossy black colouration. Pied Bush Chats are often seen perched on low shrubs, fences, or wires, flicking their tails and making short flights to catch insects, accompanied by their sharp, metallic “tchit” or “tuk” calls. The species is common and widespread, with males being more conspicuous due to their striking black plumage, while females and juveniles are more subdued in appearance. They are widely distributed across the Indian, Southeast, and Central subcontinent. These birds prefer open habitats such as grasslands, scrublands, agricultural fields, and gardens. They feed on insects, which they catch by sallying from perches, and occasionally consume small fruits and seeds. Both sexes build cup-shaped nests in low bushes or grass tussocks, with the female laying 3-5 eggs. 

Prof. Dr. Prahlada N. B
15 August 2024
Chitradurga.

Next: A Mini Bird Sanctuary in my Backyard – Part 2.