“I always believe birds learn a lot from each other; I know I learn a lot from birds. Was having a discussion with a colleague this evening in my garden and spotted this Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis maculates) feeding on nectar from the Coral Tree (Erythrina variegata).
“Never expected that they would do this/use this food source. Probably been watching the sunbirds that feed extensively on the nectar in the coral tree flowers.
“An earlier reports on nectar feeding HERE. “Also, in Ali S and SD Ripley (1986). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 5 (2 ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 104–108. See: HERE.
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Canning Garden Home, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
22nd March 2011
3 Responses
Quite a number of birds enjoy nectar. From experience in aviculture, orioles, leafbirds and Asian fairy bluebirds readily take nectar from bowls. It is not necessary to add fruit to the mixture to attract them to the nectar.
A simple nectar formula consists of two tablespoons of human baby food, half a tablespoon of glucose powder and a bit of rose syrup for colour and scent mixed well in a teacup of water. The mixture should be of very thin constituency when fed to birds.
I wanted to know if there is any compiled list of photos or the like for birds observed on the Coral tree Erythrina variegata. There is one such amazing compilation from India on birds on the red silk cotton tree so IMO this may be worth starting. http://www.kolkatabirds.com/silkcotton.htm
Impressive, the compiled list… No, we have not done so. We need to collect sightings and images before we attempt.