My garden has been planted by birds - not totally, but partly. The birds brought the seeds and dropped them haphazardly. In most instances I allowed the plants to develop to maturity if they are not in the way of things. I had a trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata) growing for some months (top left). It was a male tree, a New World species that has become a weed in this part of the world. It grew too tall and threatened to invade my neighbour’s air space. As it was not a spectacular bird tree, I chopped it down.

I still have the umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla), native to New Guinea and Australia (above centre). It twice flowered, but each time the trunk broke before the flowers could form fruits. So I have yet to be given an opportunity to document the birds that are attracted to the flowers and fruits, except the Banded Woodpecker (Picus miniaceus) that came for the ants.

The two noni trees (Morinda citrifolia) by the gate are constantly flowering and fruiting (above right). They are popular with sunbirds and flowerpeckers that visit for the nectar in the flowers. The mistletoes (Dendrophthoe pentandra, Macrosolen cochinchinensis) that grow from the branches attract these delightful birds when they are in flowers and fruits. At least three species of birds are attracted to the fruits.

The white-stemmed button vine (Cissus hastata), a prolific scrambler, is growing all over the trees and palms. It is fruiting profusely, providing food for birds (top left).

Seedlings of sendudok or melastome (Melastome malabathricum) (above centre) litter the ground and I have transplanted a few and they are fruiting, attracting Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum).

The colourful seedlings of mahang (Macaranga javanica) regularly appear (above right). Two have grown tall, taking over the space of the trumpet tree. I am hoping these will flower soon and look forward to observing the birds that are attracted to them. Then if they grow too tall, they also have to give way to others.

There are a few more plants brought in by the birds, but they have to wait their turn, as I do not have enough space for them all. The wild cinnamon (Cinnamomum iners) (top left) is waiting to fill the garden. Then there is the salam (Syzygium polyanthum) (top centre) and what looks like a wild brinjal (Solanum sp.) (top right). The first two are great bird trees, I am not sure of the third shrub.

A garden planted by birds is guaranteed to attract birds.

James Heng was at Lower Peirce in late January 2008 when he came across a sarcaca tree, possibly yellow saraca (Saraca thaipingensis), in full bloom:

“There are about five pairs of Purple Throated Sunbirds (Nectariniua sperata) feeding voraciously on the flowers of a tree at Lower Pierce Reservoir (above).

“That flowering saraca tree is a magnet for the birds of the Nectariniidae family. At one point in time this afternoon, there were four species of sunbirds - Olive Backed (Cinnyris jugularis), Brown-throated (Anthreptes malacensis), Crimson (A. siparaja) and Purple Throated, feeding together on the flowers’ nectar at the same time.

“A pair of Scarlet-Backed Flowerpeckers (Dicaeum cruentatum) also decided to join in the buffet. They plucked off and ate the saraca small green fruits.

“The feeding frenzy rose several notches just before and immediately after each of the intermittent episodes of rain.”

There are a few species of saraca trees planted in Singapore, originating from nearby Malaysia. The image above shows the yellow saraca with its attractive purple young leaves hanging like tassels from the ends of branches. It would take a few days before these leaves stiffen up and turn green. The tree is just beginning to flower. When in full flowering, the large bunches of yellow to orange-red flowers appear in dense clusters from the main branches and trunk. The flowers are faintly fragrant, each with a crimson eye-spot that darkens to blood-red.

The tree attracts many species of birds that visit for the flower nectar and fruits.

Image of sunbird by David Tan and of tree by YC.

Albizia (Paraserianthes falcataria) trees have been in the local news since the recent spate of tree falls that resulted in a number of people being injured and even killed - locally as well as in neighbouring Malaysia. As a result of the bad publicity in the media, various government agencies have been quick to remove these large and graceful trees from wastelands all over Singapore.

The tree is native to countries in east Malesia to the Solomons. It was introduced and grown in the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the 1870s. It has been flourishing in wastelands ever since. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are found growing in the roots help the trees to proliferate in these nutrient-poor soils.

The tree is fast-growing, capable of attaining 20 metres in three years or more. It bears compound leaves, bearing small white flowers (left top) that develop into pods (left below). It grows tall, with wide-spreading branches and as such was once commonly used as a shade tree in coffee and tea plantings. Because growth is rapid, the wood is soft and earlier used in the manufacturing of matches and packing boards.

Since the start of Singapore’s Garden City Campaign in the 1950s, albizia has never been used as a roadside tree. In fact, any found growing near roads were removed. The shedding of branches during tropical storms and the aggressive roots that grow near the soil surface make it dangerous for such use.

Albizia trees are now confined to wastelands where they proliferate, helping to reduce soil erosion and providing refuge to a wide variety of wildlife (above). Yes, there is always the possibility of branches falling, but away from human habitation and in areas where few, if ever, any people venture, they should not pose any threat to life and limb. Their presence thus should be tolerated. To chop down these magnificent trees and replace them with other species is a waste of resources.

According to an article by Dr Ho Hwa Chew, these trees are rich in wildlife. There are at least 40 resident and migratory bird species that make use of the trees, either seeking food, nesting materials or a place to build their nests. Prominent among which are the Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense) (right), Long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda), Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) and Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa). The White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) and Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) make use of these trees to nest.

At the same time, natural cavities that develop in these old trees provide potential nesting holes for hornbills, as seen in an old and magnificent tree at Eng Neo. Although the pair of hornbills, Great (Buceros bicronis) and Rhinoceros (Buceros rhinoceros), are both escapees, not to mention that they are also both females, the fact that they were prospecting for a nesting cavity points to the value of albizia to the bird life of our Garden City, if not a City in a Garden - see 1 and 2 for details.

Also, an old, rotting albizia trunk nearby, that was never a danger to anyone, was the centre of a busy and exciting community of birds that fought for the privilege of making use of the few cavities for nesting, posted earlier: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

So, where these large and beautiful trees pose no danger to anyone, can the authorities please leave them alone?

This post has been commissioned by Yong Ding Li, who is concerned that these trees would continue to be indiscriminately removed. Images by YC.

An image of the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) eating the fruits of Pipturus argenteus (Family Urticaceae) was recently submitted by bird photographer Chan Yoke Meng (above).

This is a shrub with unisexual flowers and small, black fruits in a white foamy and fleshy receptacle (below). The entry in Keng (1990) states: “A fairly recent introduced weed of the Pacific Isls., found in waste places in city areas.”

Unlike most cuckoos that feed on insects, this koel feeds largely on fruits. This is another example of birds adapting to exotic plants in their search for food.

Input and image of koel by Meng and Melinda Chan; Angie Ng helped in identifying the plant as well as supplying the images.

UPDATE:
KF Yap has just now sent in the images of the plant as seen on the left and reports that he has once seen an Asian Koel eating a ripe papaya (Carica papaya) fruit. Thanks, KF.

Reference:
Keng, H. (1990). The concise flora of Singapore. Singapore University Press.

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.

Input and image by KC Tsang.