Golden Oriole.
Environment: You don’t have to travel far to watch birds. They can be invited to your neighbourhood or even your backyard.Birders are viewed as an alien species — as people who forgo a Sunday lie-in, travel long, wade through slush or trek through woods, to watch and listen to, sometimes, just one bird. Birders of this stripe, known as twitchers, do exist. But they hardly represent the entire tribe. Some birders don’t look beyond their neighbourhood; some others, not even beyond their backyard.Investing in garden implements is one step towards increasing bird traffic to one’s doorstep. Naturalist and conservationist V. Arun, who devotes a lot of time to studying the ecological impact of specific trees and plants, warns against the notion that trees alone draw birds. “Even small flowering plants do,” says Arun. “Hibiscus,parijathamand tacoma attract nectar-drinking birds such as sunbirds.”But obviously, anyone with the luxury of space can ‘invite’ greater avian adventures. Fig varieties top the list of trees that attract birds. Another hot favorite is the Indian coral tree.“The Indian coral tree, with its bright red flowers, is an awesome sight. Its ability to draw birds is unfathomable. During a visit to Kerala, I noticed 25 bird species on a coral tree. And in Mumbai, I counted over 400 rosy pastors on another. Mynahs roost in Mast trees (known as Ashoka trees),” says Arun.Won’t any big tree or bushy plant draw birds? “Not necessarily,” says Arun. “Exotic trees don’t make the cut. Birds gravitate towards greenery that they are familiar with, and indigenous plant and tree species are the best bet to draw them in great numbers. Naturalised species can serve as an alternative.”Among naturalised species, K.V.R.K Thirunaranan of The Nature Trust rates the rain tree high. “The bark of a rain tree teems with insects, beckoning birds,” he says. “Birds flock to trees for feeding, roosting and nesting, and the trick lies in understanding which trees meet these needs adequately. Mango trees draw golden orioles, and cherry trees, koels.”Source: http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/friends-in-the-backyard/article4451876.ece