Born to be Free

Mud Nest

2011-11-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Birds are excellent builders and is natural that they construct their nest using mud as a primary resource. Birds build their nest entirely out of mud or mix in other materials like grass, feathers etc. The most common birds that use mud to make a nest are members of the swallow family. Swallows and Martins all over the world build their hemispherical or retort shaped nests on the edges of cliffs, under the eaves of houses and under the modern bridges. The mud is collected in small pellets and moistened with saliva before being applied to the wall or existing nest.The nests are lined with grass and fetahers to make it comfortable and durable. These nests are generally found in colonies.

Black Naped Monarch Flycatcher Feeding

2011-09-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is the video of a Black naped Monarch Flycatcher feeding it's chick.This Nest is located on a mango tree near Hirakud Reservoir.

Hanging Nest

2011-06-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

Among all nests build by birds , the hanging nests are the most complex nest bulding , an admirable of bird architecture. In indian the hanging nests found are that of Baya weaver and sunbirds. It require great skill by a bird to build such type of nest.The main purpose of such types of nests are protection from predators and adverse climate. These nests generally hung from the tip of a branch or leaf, or suspended between twigs. They are globular or retort-shaped with a single entrance hole. A completed baya nest looks like an upside down flask with a downward tube like pointing entrance .The swollen portion of the nest is the main nesting area or egg chamber.The sunbird nest is build with cobwebs and caterpillar excreta hanging from a tip of a branch or twig.

Cup nest with roof

2011-02-15T23:33:00.000-08:00

The cup shaped nest with roof are more advanced than the usual cup nest.They are generally rounded or elliptical in shape and appears like a ball with a side entrance.This type of nest offer more protection to the eggs and chicks than a simple cup nest.These nests are built with grasses, leaves, fibers, small sticks etc.The inner is covered with soft materials to provide more comfort. Birds like Red munia, scally breasted munia, rufous bellied babbler, white munia, rufous winged bushlark etc build this types of nest. The photo above shows the nest of rufous bellied babbler.The nest is found in the vicinity of river Mahanadi in Sambalpur, Orissa, India.

Cup Nest

2010-12-26T07:25:00.000-08:00

Fig: Cup nest built by Asian Paradise Flycatcher

The cup shape nest is the 3rd inorder of simple to complex nest In my previous posts I have given information about first two type of nests.The cup shaped nest is more advanced than simple twig nest.This is the most typical form of nest and found in abundant as most flycatchers build this type of nest.The cup shape nest have a clear inside as well as an outside and the inside is lined with softer materials for more comfort.This type of nest also provide more protection for both the eggs and chicks.They are generally build at the forked branch of a tree i.e either "V" or "Y" shaped branch.These nests are build with leaves, grasses, finer twigs sticked together with cobwebs. Birds like Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Monarch Flycatcher, Faintail Flycatcher, Humming birds, Bulbul,Oriole, Drongo etc build cup shaped nest.

Nesting Behaviour of Birds: Simple nest

2010-11-20T22:50:00.000-08:00

This post of mine is continuation of nesting behaviour of birds.Simple nests or twig nests are built using plant material mainly twigs and sticks.The twigs are gathered on tree branches to build a simple platform just to support the eggs. Some nests have a depression on the middle but generally they don't have any inner or outer side.The eggs can be seen through the nest from below.common example of simple nests are those build by pigeons,doves, herons,Gulls and Eagles.

Nesting Behaviour of Birds: No Nest

2010-10-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

The most simple form of nest is no nest at all.Many birds donot build any nest.They either lay eggs directly on the bare ground or rock surface. Some make simple scrap on the ground to lay eggs. It is observed that birds who leaves the nest soon after hatching, generally build this type of nest or more accurately they don't need complex nest at all.Nightjars lay their two eggs directly onto the ground.Birds like Plovers, Pratincoles, Lapwings, Little tern make simple scrap to lay eggs. As the eggs are on open surface they generally camoufladge with their surrounding and there by protected from predators. The picture above is a Little ringed Plover Nest with egg on open ground near a river bank.

Nesting Behaviour of Birds

2010-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nesting Behavior of Birds

There is a common misconception that Birds build nests to live in it. It is not true. The fact is that birds build nest to lay eggs, raise their chicks, protect them from predators and adverse climate. Birds are notable for their instinct to build nest like humans and other animals. The nest varies from no nest (e.g Pratincoles) to very complex nest ( Baya weaver).

The nesting behavior of birds, the shape and size of nest varies according to their habitat, climate, breeding season, size and physiology of bird and amount of threat by predators. Broadly the nests can be divided into 12 categories.

1. No nest/ scrap nest

2. Simple twig nest

3. Cup nest

4. Cup nest with roof

5. Ball nest

6. Hanging / very complex nest

7. Mud nest

8. Hole nest in ground

9. Hole nest in tree

10. Floating nest

11. Edible nest

In my upcoming posts I will deal details about the individual nests.Birds are notable for their ability to build their nests most skillfully.

Sunbird, The Nesting

2010-05-07T23:56:00.000-07:00

Nesting Season of Sunbird varies from February to June.Both the Purple and purple-rumped Sunbird has similar nesting behavior.I have discussed in detail how they build their nest in my post " Sunbird, The nest". The female generally lays 2 to 3 eggs of grayish color with brown spots.The female incubates the egg for a period of about two weeks.The young birds are fed by both the parents.The chicks feed almost 3 times more than their body weight.It is my personal observation that both the parent visit the nest almost 40 times in an hour to feed the chicks. Fledging period is almost 12 days.It is a great pleasure to watch the chicks coming out of the nest and jumping from branch to branch and the parents following them.

Purple Sunbird

2010-04-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Purple Sunbird
Species : Nectarinia asiatica
Family : Nectarinidae
Size : Smaller than sparrow

This is another species of Sunbird commonly found in Asiatic region.The only difference here is the color of the male. The breeding male is metallic black with a smooth shiny surface which ranges from green to purple . An orange patch is found on the armpit.Female are same are olive above and yellowish below. In both the species i.e purple sunbird and purple rumped sunbird the females look similar.For more information please read my post " The Purple Rumped Sunbird".

Sunbird, The Nest

2010-03-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

Fig. The female Sunbird building the Nest

The nest of sunbirds are architectural marvel. It is generally suspended from a branch at a height of around 10ft from ground. It looks like an oval or oblong purse-shaped pouch with a hooded side-entrance.The collection of nest material and nest building are performed by the female alone with the male only accompanying the female.Before building the nest both male and female first select the appropriate branch of a tree.The female hover around it for a inspection and one can easily confused it with a humming bird. The nest materials consists of soft grasses, dry leaves, barks, pieces of paper and cobwebs.Cobwebs are generally used as a glue material. The nest is about 300 to 600 mm long from tail to tip.The diameter is around 50 to 70 mm at the broadest part.The outer layer consists of coarse materials like dried leaves, barks and even paper and polythene pieces.The inner layers consists of finer materials like cotton fibres or silky substances of seeds and flowers.The nest I observed mostly. The interior of the nest contains the egg chamber which is the thickest portion of the nest i.e 30mm thick.The interior gives utmost comfort to the chicks to grow.On a an average a nest is built with in 10 to 15 days.

Purple-rumped Sunbird

2010-02-24T05:54:00.000-08:00

Fig. This is the female and male purple-rumped sunbird

Purple-rumped Sunbird

Species Nectarinia zeylonica

Family Nectarinidae

Size About 10 cm

Purple-rumped Sunbird is a colorful and very active tiny little bird.This bird is endemic to Indian subcontinent and a common resident breeder in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Purple-rumped Sunbirds are smaller in size i.e less than 10 cm long.The male and female looks different.The males have a dark metallic maroon upper side with a blue-green crown which glitter on sunlight. Metallic violet patches are also found around throat and only visible at certain angle.The female has a white throat followed by yellowish breast.The upper side is olive or brownish. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and tubular tongues which are made for nectar feeding. This photograph is taken at Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary , Sambalpur, India.

Sunbird

2010-02-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

Fig. This is a purple rumped sunbird

Sunbirds are colourful, attractive small passerine birds. and readily enter gardens where flowering plants are planted to attract them. The sunbirds and spiderhunters belongs to family Nectariniidae. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and northern Australia.The sunbirds have two close relatives, the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to similar nectar-feeding lifestyle.There are more than 100 species of sunbird in 15 genera.Two most common species seen in India are Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica) and Purple-rumped Sunbird (Nectarinia zeylonica).When one sees them feeding nectar on flight can easily be confused it as Humming bird.However we have no Humming birds here in India.Sunbirds are frequent visitors to gardens where flowering plants are present.They also built their nest in backyard gardens .

Plani Prinia Feeding

2010-01-25T22:40:00.001-08:00

The above photographs are showing the Plain Prinia parents feeding the chicks.I managed to locate the nest inside a bush at about 2 ft from ground.Observed it for almost 15 days. By the time the bird get comfortable with my presence. I waited and watched the bird feeding the chicks entire day.Finally got some feeding shots.You can clearly see the bird holding a grasshopper and feeding it to the chicks.The chicks are voracious feeders.They eat almost 3 to 5 times of their body weight.The parents keep the nest clean by clearing the droppings inside the nest.After 12 days of hatching finally the chicks left the nest.This is the beauty of nature and beauty of bird watching.Yhis photograph is taken with a 200 mm lens with Nikon F3 camera.

Small Minivet

2010-01-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

This is one of the fresh photograph of female small Minivet feeding the chicks. I have posted earlier about this bird on my post Fire on the wings.You can see in this picture how the nest is built on the fork of a branch and almost camouflage with the tree.Even the chicks are not easily visible. This is how the bird protects their chicks from predators. I observe this bird for days feeding the chicks high on a tree. Finally got a chance to take some photographs.Enjoy this beauty of nature. In this new year lets unite to save these wonderful birds so that our future generation will able to see them.

Red-vented Bulbul,The Nesting

2009-12-20T04:56:00.000-08:00

The breeding season of Red-vented Bulbul is from March to July.It builds its nest at the fork of a branch of tree or bush generally at a height of around 2-5 m (7-15 ft). Nests are occasionally built inside houses.The nest is cup shaped built with rootlets. Mostly three eggs are found which are pinkish in color blotched with brown.Both the parent incubates the egg for a period of 15-18 days. The chicks remain in nest and are fed for about 10 to 12 days by both the parents.They keep the nest clean by swallowing the fecal material.

This nest in above photograph is built in a Bougainvillea plant in my friend's house just in front of the main gate. I watched it regularly and taken few shots without disturbing the bird.This photograph is taken by my Nikon F801 camera with a 200 mm lens.This is a bright example of man and wildlife thriving side by side.Enjoy the bird watching and know the bird in your back yard.

Red-Vented Bulbul

2009-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Common name: Red-vented Bulbul
Species : Pycnonotus cafer
Family : Pycnonotidae
Size : Smaller than a Myna

The Red-vented Bulbul is a passerine bird of the bulbul family .The body is a grayish brown with a scaly pattern above and gray below.The Red-vented Bulbul is easily identified by its crested glossy black head . The rump is white while the vent is red i.e a distinguishing red patch under the tail. The black tail is tipped with white. Both male and female look alike.This bird is commonly seen in gardens, scrub jungles and also near human habitation and cultivated lands.It feeds mainly on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar, insects etc. Mostly seen collecting figs to eat from the trees like peepal and baniyan. The bird can be easily identified from its whistling sound .It can be easily reared and tamed.In India it is used as a common fighting bird which shouldn't be.After all birds are born to be free.It is nice to observe them in their natural habitat moving freely.

Asian Paradise Fly catcher, The nesting

2009-11-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Nesting Season of Asian Paradise flycatcher is generally June to August i.e the rainy season.It may be due to availability of more flying insects during this period.

The nest is conical in shape and just the size of a tea cup.It is found hanging from a tip of a small and thin branch of a tree generally at a height of 8ft to 15ft from the ground. The nest is woven with fine grasses and fibers.The outer wall of nest is plastered with cob webs and spider egg shells. It is observed that the female alone built the nest.The female generally lays four numbers of pale pink colour eggs with blotches of reddish brown.In some cases three eggs are also found. Incubation takes nearly 18 days and both the parent incubate the eggs alternately.The nestling period is around 10 to 12 days.The chicks are raised by both the parents.

It is quite thrilling to watch the parents feeding the nestlings.I observed it very close to the nest.The photograph is taken by my pretty old Nikon 801 camera with a 200 mm lens.Watching nature so close is a rare experience to share.Enjoy the bird Watching.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher, The Male

2009-10-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

The typical adult male "Asian Paradise flycatcher" is about 20cm long.But the long ribbon like tail of almost 30cm is the most significant character of the male.It is amazing to watch the bird with such a long tail flying from tree to tree and hunting flying insects.

Another significant character of the male is that it changes it's color during it's development from subadult to adult male .The subadult male ( first two years of growth ) have chestnut brown color on the back with whitish underpart and metallic blue black head.When it grows to adult male i.e in third year from hatching it changes it's color to shining white except the head.The wings laterally appears to have black stripes.In some cases in the second year of development the male with partly white and partly chestnut brown color tail is also seen.

This is the beauty of nature in true sense.I watch these birds for hours and admire their beauty.All these photographs are shot with my pretty old Nikon F3 camera and a 200 mm lens.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

2009-09-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Asian Paradise Fly Catcher
Species : Terpsiphone paradise
Family : Corvidae
Size : About the size of Bulbul

The Asian Paradise-flycatcher is a noisy bird with a sharp skreek call. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, hunting by flycatching .Pairs are seen moving after winged insects in shady grooves and thin jungles near nullahs. Sometimes seen near homestead in rural areas. The birds are seen moving only after the tiny creatures that fly and catch those in flight. The birds as observed are not sedentary and arrive at this locality during March much before the rain every year.

The sub adult male and female look alike except the tail.The bird is usually 20cm long while the male has a 30 long tail which is the unique character.The body of the female is chestnut brown color with grayish underpart.The head and throat are metallic black.The eyes have blue circle.The tail is short and roundish.I will tell about the male in my next post which is very unique as compare to other birds.Now enjoy the beauty of bird watching.

Black naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Nesting

2009-09-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

The breeding season varies from June to August i.e. the rainy season.This may be due to the reason that plenty of food is vailable at that time.

The nest is a small conical cup shaped structure. It is made of fine grasses woven together plastered outside with cub webs and spider egg cases etc. It is built on a hanging twig of plants mostly at a height of 6 feet to 8 feet. The female mostly lays four numbers of eggs which are pale creamy pink color blotched with reddish brown. Both the parent incubate the egg for about 16 to 18 days. Fledging takes place in around 10 to 12 days, both the parents take care of the chicks.

The photographs are shot in Barapahad forest of Bargarh district in Orissa, India. I watch the chicks leaving the nest one by one. It is so thrilling that even I skipped my breakfast and launch to watch it. This is the beauty of bird watching. I don’t have any expensive camera. I used the pretty old Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens.

Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Male

2009-08-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

The adult male black-napped monarch flycatcher is a small about 16 cm bird.The male's head, chest, back and tail are blue.The wings are darker.The belly is white.There is a black band around the throat and black crest on the crown and hence the name "Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher".It has short legs and sits upright while perched on branches.It often hunts by fly catching.It makes a sharp sound and easily noticeable.

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

2009-08-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Species: Hypothymis azurea

Family : Corvidae

Size : 16 cm

The Black-naped Monarch fly catcher is a small passerine bird.This bird is seen across Southern Asia from India and Srilanka east to Indonesia and Philippines.This species is usually found in thick forest mostly mixed bamboo forest and other well wooded habitats.They hunt making agile movements after winged insects.

The male and and female looks different.The female is brownish grey on the back,wings, tail and breast and has a blue grey head.The photograph above is that of an adult female.Such a graceful bird it is.Enjoy the beauty of bird watching.

Streaked Fantail Warbler, The Nesting

2009-07-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

The nesting season varies from from June to September. Male birds are polygamous. the female builds a small nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves. The nest is a deep oblong pouch of vegetable matters glued together with cobwebs and attached with the blades of grass .It is generally built at a height of about 2 inches from the ground. It lays about 3-4 Nos of eggs. The eggs are whitish spotted with red & brown colour.It weighs about only one gram. The incubation period is about 12 to 14 days. Both the parents raise the young for a period of 10-12 days. The main food of this bird consists of Insects like grasshoppers and caterpillars etc.

The nest in the phot ograph is located in a waste land near Mahanadi river bed.I waited for long hours to take some feeding shots among wild grasses.I used a Nikon F3 camera and 200 mm lens.This is the wonder of bird watching.

Streaked Fantail-Warbler

2009-07-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Streaked Fantail-Warbler

Species: Cisticola Juncidis

Family: Cisticolidae

Size: Smaller than sparrow

It is a beautiful small bird about 10 cm long. It has a whitish underneath and a heavily striped back in dark brown colour. The tail is short with whitish ends. The tail is constantly flicked open like a fan hence the name fantail warbler. The beak is sharp and pointed.

These birds are more easily heard than seen . Its presence is easily felt as it utters a sharp sound too frequently. It has a constant chik chik chik sound very sweet to heard. The bird is seen moving in open grassy lands, reed beds & paddy fields. Taking photograph of this bird is a very hard task. I located the nest in a riverbed and able to take the shots in my Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens. Enjoy watching the bird

Paddyfield Pipit

2009-05-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

Species : Anthus rufulus

Family : Passeridae

Size : Larger than a sparrow

Primarily it is a ground bird and seen in grazing fields, stony grass lands and usually walking quickly to short distances shaking its tail. It is very often seen sitting on a rock or stone.

It is a small and slender passerine bird with a long tail. The lateral feathers are white. The underside of the bird is streaked with dark brown while the upper part of the body is brownish gray. The legs are pink in colour. The male and female look almost alike and hence very difficult to distinguish.It looks graceful while standing.

It is so exciting to watch this bird moving from place o place.This is why I love bird watching. Though this bird is not colorful , it is so graceful to watch.

Plain Prinia, The nesting

2009-05-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

The nesting of Plain Prinia generally occurs between April to October.It build it's nest generally in a shrub or bush.The nest is woven with grass streaks and narrow at the top and broader towards the bottom.It lays 3 to 4 glossy light blue eggs with reddish brown spot and fine lines.Incubation takes place upto 12 days.Fledging also requires almost the same time.

Plain Prinia

2009-05-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

Species Prinia inornata
Family Silvidae
Size Smaller than sparrow

This passerine bird is typically found in wet lowland grassland, open woodland, scrub and sometimes gardens. Seen mostly in pairs around open fields covered with small bushes, trees and grasses. Hops from bush to bush like ashy prinia to collect food.

The Plain prinia or White-browed, Wren-Warbler is Light earth color on the upper part and

white below. The bird is slim and the tail is relatively longer. The sexes look alike so much so that it

becomes difficult to distinguish.

Indian Robin, The Nesting

2009-05-03T00:47:00.000-07:00

The nesting season of Indian robin is generally between March to June. It build it's nest under rock, earthen bank, tree holes , stone or brick wall of dwelling houses.The nest is built with rootlets, grass and softer materials. It lays 3 to 4 creamy white eggs blotched with brown color.Incubation is done for about 15 days by female only.Fledging takes place in around 10 days.The above picture is taken in the bank of river Mahanadi.It is built in a small hole in the earthen bank.I waited for hours to take this picture.You can watch the chicks behind the female who is trying to hide them.

Indian Robin (The Female)

2009-04-26T00:32:00.000-07:00

Fig.The Female Robin

The female Indian Robin is uniform ashy brown in color and about the same size as the male.This picture is the female partner of the male in my previous post. Both are engaged in feeding their chicks.The feed in the beak is clearly visible.I love watching these bird.Enjoy the beauty of nature.

Indian Robin ( The Male)

2009-04-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

Species : Saxicoloides fulicata
Family : Muscicapidae
Size : Slightly larger than sparrow

The Male Indian Robins are 15 cm (6 inches) long, glossy black with a white shoulder patch .Black plumage set off by a white shoulder patch and chestnut red under the root of the tail. Race cambaiensis of western India and erythrura of eastern India have the males with brown backs.It generally throws it's tail up over the back and never let it come down.Look the picture how the black colors shines in the bright sunlight.The bird is so beautiful to watch.This is the beauty of bird watching.This photograph is taken when the male is bringing food for feeding it's chicks.You can see the feed on it's beak.This is the beauty of nature to watch.