Birds of the Miracle Tree

The miracle tree is one of the many names the Maringa tree (Moringa oleifera) is called.  The health benefits of this fast-growing, drought-resistant tree are well documented, boasting many important vitamins and minerals that are good for the body.  Though native to the Indian subcontinent it is quickly finding its place here on the island and it seems like the birds are enjoying it too.  My parents has a plant on their property and my mother told me that she is seeing more hummingbirds visiting the tree, since the heavy ashfall that occurred as a result of the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano on the neighboring island of St. Vincent. 

Green-throated Caribs were the most numerous bird species I saw

I was doing some work there over the weekend and took my camera along. The tree was flowering and was alive with activity.  Birds and insects were busy going from flower to flower taking their sweet nectar but also taking pollen with them to other flowers for pollination, there was an increase in activity for sure. 

Antillean Crested Hummingbird

From my previous visits I knew the smaller of the two hummingbirds we have on the island, the  Antillean-crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus), was the most numerous species i saw at the tree, but they were now being outnumbered by the larger  Green-throated Carib (Eulampis holosericeus).

 A Bananaquit taking a drink from on of the Maringa tree flowers

Another nectivorous bird species also present was the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). These flowers were just the right size for their sharp decurved beck because we all know what happens to flowers that are too large for that bill to reach the nector - the Bananaquit uses its beak to pierce the base of the flower.  In most cases it may not harm the plant, but does not assist in the pollination process as no pollen is transferred from the flower to the bird's bill hence no pollination. 

Barbados Bullfinch

Two non-nectar feeding birds that visited the tree were Barbados Bullfinch (Loxigilla barbadensis) and Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto).  The Bullfinch no doubt fed on the small insects that were attracted to the flowers but why was the dove there?  It was eating the complete flower of the tree.  I am simply amazed at how adaptive to various environments these birds are, no wonder there are spreading across the Americas at such an alarming rate.

Carpenter Bee

The visitor to the Maringa tree that deserved an honorable mention has wings and flies but is not a bird.  It is the Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea?). unlike the hummers who made a fuss, fighting and all, these bees played their roll, feeding and pollinating, slow and could even say methodically, without any fuss. 

Without fuss and unassuming is how this fast-growing, drought-resistant, miracle tree that is the Maringa tree (Moringa oleifera) presents itself, but I am observing that it is not just a miracle tree for us humans, but also the birds, bees, and other animals. 

Stay safe

Over 100 Turnstones at Inch Marlow

Ruddy Turnstone beautifully adorned in breeding plumage 

I made a midday stop yesterday (April 23rd) at Inch Marlow Beach, Christ Church to see what birds were there.  

Looking South toward the Inch Marlow's peninsula

The beach and the sea were bursting with Sargassum Seaweed, the golden color of the fresh seaweed dominated the sea and shoreline, while the older one was further back on the beach.  The tide and the winds were high, causing angry waves to throw a tantrum as there lash against the unyielding rocky shores of the peninsula, but effortlessly reshaping the sandy shores at Long Beach to the north. 

Ruddy Turnstones at various stages of molting

A few species of shorebirds were on the rocky shore. They were a Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus)(4), Sanderlings (Calidris alba) (5), but the bird that dominated was the Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) (111) at various stages of molting to breeding plumage.

Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones

The birds appeared to be mostly at rest, punctuated periodically by self-grooming and the preening of feathers.  Ruddy Turnstones are one of the most colorful shorebirds when in breeding plumage and we are having a front-row seat of this transformation.  Disappointedly there are some of the few birds we get to witness make this full yearly change, as many of them, like the Sanderlings (Calidris alba), will begin the process here, but will migrate before the process is complete.  I am hoping to document as many species as possible, especially shorebirds, as their change to breeding plumage.   

Until the next post stay safe. 

April Images: First Half Of the Month

I had a slow photographic and birding start to the month of April, but I am happy to still be able to share a few images with you.   As we approach the end of the month I will be searching for birds migrating north to their breeding grounds, but for now please enjoy this mixture of some of our locally nesting birds, starting with portraits of two iconic local species -    

Grey Kingbird

Carib Grackle

Juvenile Common Gallinule in the canal at Graeme Hall Swamp

Juvenile Common Gallinule again

A Cattle Egret with dirty plumage from the ash fall from the La Soufriere volcano in the neighboring island of St. Vincent 

Snowy Egret at Chancery Lane 

The tinny Black-faced Grassquit

Adult Black-crowned Nightheron

oops! not a local breeder but a migrating visitor,
 Short-billed Dowitcher