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