The Original Sindoor - Oriental White-eye & Woodfordia fruticosa association
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Adesh Shivkar
Apr 3, 2009, 6:16:40 AM4/3/09
to indiantreepix, wildflowerindia
Hope this is a relevant post on this group showing the Bird-Plant relationship with Ref. to pollination.....
Status in the Region: Very Common throughout its range .
Place:Mohan / Kumeria, Near Corbett National Park, Uttaranchal, India.
Adesh Shivkar
Mumbai
Common Name : Oriental White-eye
Scientific name: Zosterops palpebrosus
Place:Mohan / Kumeria, Near Corbett National Park, Uttaranchal, India.
Date: March 27, 2009
Equipment: Canon 40 D with Canon 100-400 mm IS lens
Notes:
Caught Red-Headed ….. this Oriental White-eye is amongst the many small nectar feeding birds that are often mistaken for some new plumage variant species by birders who come across such birds with orange / red coloured forehead. Some species of smart flowering plants like this Woodfordia fruticosa (also called Fire-flame Bush) has perfectly mastered the art of bird pollination, by luring birds to feed on nectar in such a way that ensures the dusting of pollens on the forehead. Here is a good example of how it accomplishes this mission. Oriental white-eyes are one amongst the over 70 species of White-eye's found in the world. They are known to be largely responsible for cross-pollinating a wide variety of flowers due to their short & fine beak. Here is a good article on pollination by this method http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_polln.htm
Equipment: Canon 40 D with Canon 100-400 mm IS lens
Notes:
Caught Red-Headed ….. this Oriental White-eye is amongst the many small nectar feeding birds that are often mistaken for some new plumage variant species by birders who come across such birds with orange / red coloured forehead. Some species of smart flowering plants like this Woodfordia fruticosa (also called Fire-flame Bush) has perfectly mastered the art of bird pollination, by luring birds to feed on nectar in such a way that ensures the dusting of pollens on the forehead. Here is a good example of how it accomplishes this mission. Oriental white-eyes are one amongst the over 70 species of White-eye's found in the world. They are known to be largely responsible for cross-pollinating a wide variety of flowers due to their short & fine beak. Here is a good article on pollination by this method http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_polln.htm
For more information on this species.....click below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_White-eye
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zosteropidae
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v067n03/p0358-p0359.pdf
Regards,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_White-eye
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zosteropidae
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/JFO/v067n03/p0358-p0359.pdf
Adesh Shivkar
Mumbai
Aditya Panda
Apr 3, 2009, 6:41:29 AM4/3/09
to Adesh Shivkar, indiantreepix, wildflowerindia
Great finding Adesh! Should help a lot of bewildered/excited birders the next time they see this beauty!
--
Conservation has gone astray because it has failed to confront the disease that is causing all the trouble. The organizers of the movement have been too embarrassed to face the simple truth: if human breeding is not restricted, wildlife will disappear- Desmond Morris, The Animal Contract, 1990
see me at www.junglediaries.blogspot.com and www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adityapanda
--
Conservation has gone astray because it has failed to confront the disease that is causing all the trouble. The organizers of the movement have been too embarrassed to face the simple truth: if human breeding is not restricted, wildlife will disappear- Desmond Morris, The Animal Contract, 1990
see me at www.junglediaries.blogspot.com and www.pentaxphotogallery.com/adityapanda
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