There is a bodh-tree (Ficus religiosa) at the entrance of the Chinese Garden in Jurong and it is figging. And a figging tree invariably attracts flocks of birds – not just birds of a feather but of different feathers. In other words, there would always be a mix of species that come for the feast. The noise these birds generate is enough to attract hordes of birders and photographers.
And it was so with this particular fig tree on the day after Christmas this year. KC Tsang was there and sent in the image above of the Asian Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) perching next to the Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala). KC also filed this report:
“The fig tree near the entrance of the Chinese Garden is fully laden with fruits, not all are ripe, but this has been a great attraction for many kinds of birds, from fruit eating ones to insectivorous birds. The types of birds observed visiting the tree are, fruit eaters: Asian Glossy Starlings (Aplonis panayensis), Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopacea), Coppersmith Barbets, Yellow-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier), mynas, and Pink-necked Green Pigeons (Treron vernans).
“The insectivorous birds comprise Asian Paradise-flycatchers, Mugimaki Flycatchers (Ficedula mugimaki), Asian Brown Flycatchers (Muscicapa dauurica), Dark-sided Flycatchers (Muscicapa sibirica) and Arctic Warblers (Phylloscopus borealis).
“The Asian Glossy Starlings would come in waves, taking over the whole tree, but they are observed to be not aggressive to other birds, while the Asian Koels would intimidate other birds and the Asian Paradise Flycatcher would chase the Mugimaki around the tree.
“Coppersmith Barbets are seen to be left alone to do their own things, like eating the fruits quietly.
“All these activities were observed on 26/12/2007, and it will last only as long as there are fruits to be had on the tree, which I believe will last for only a few more days.”
If there are any birders or photographers who are still not aware of this figging tree, hurry to the Chinese Garden before the feast is over.
KC Tsang
Singapore
December 2007
3 responses
May I know the exact place of the tree in Chinese Garden? Is it near the pagoda and the mrt or is it at the entrance at the main arch building?
Sorry, as the one who reports, I usually do not know the exact spot.
Ok never mind. Thanks anyway. I asked because I saw a tree with a lot of birds in Jurong garden just today, but it was on what I thought was a banyan tree and it does not look like it has fruit. I even saw a pied imperial pigeon there. It was at the entrance near chinese garden mrt. I wonder if it is the same tree or a tree nearby…