Search

A seven-in-one tree for birds

on 31st December 2008

In my garden I only planted one tree, the exotic terap (Artocarpus odoratissimus). Some birds subsequently brought two umbrella trees (Schefflera actinophylla) that grew nearby. The crowns of the latter developed within the canopy of the terap.

Two butterfly plants, Bauhinia kockiana (below left) that grew along my fence and Bauhinia winitii introduced from Thailand (below middle), scrambled onto the terap tree. A white-stemmed button vine (Cissus hastate), again brought in by birds, grew and also scrambled all over the terap. I also grew a staghorn (Platycerium sp.) and pigeon orchid (Dendrobium cruminatum) on the trunk of the terap tree (below right).

So what have I? A mix of seven species, all growing together within and over the canopy of the terap tree, a seven-in-one tree, I call it (left).

Five of these are exotic species. Only the button vine and pigeon orchid are indigenous. What I need to do next is to introduce a strangling fig (Ficus sp.) and a mistletoe (Dendrophthoe pentandra, Macrosolen sp.) And maybe also a bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus).

Each species of plant has its very own complement of faunal species. Bringing the different plant species together increases the faunal biodiversity. Also, each plant has its own attraction for birds, be it in the flowers or fruits.

So I get a wide array of bird species visiting the terap tree… Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), Banded Woodpecker (Picus miniaceus), Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), Javan Mynas (Acridotheres javanicus) as well as Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) and Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus percussus). When the white-stemmed button vine is in fruits, many birds visit to feast on them. These include Black-naped Oriole, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum), Yellow-vented Bulbul and Javan Myna.

Singapore’s Garden City tends to be lined with “neat” trees, each tree by itself with epiphytic and parasitic plants routinely removed. However, an exception has been made for the staghorn fern and pigeon orchid, but not for the strangling fig and mistletoes.

Allowing climbers, scramblers, strangling figs, epiphytes, semi-parasites, etc to proliferate together in one tree is good for the birds. We should try it in our parks, although it may look unruly along our roads.

YC Wee
Singapore
December 2008

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

3 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1176
10455
Visitors Today
51725343
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)