Birds and My Birding

ORIOLES ON THE GROUND -
 This refers to the NLBW [40 (4) Jul-Aug 2000] 'Golden oriole on the ground' by Zaibin A. P. According to Ali, S. & Futehally, L (1968), the black-headed oriole and the golden oriole are entirely arboreal and are never seen on the ground. On 26.5.2000, at about 3.45 p.m., I sighted a black-headed oriole on the ground in a well-wooded area near cultivation. A few minutes later, the bird saw me and flew off. A little later, I saw the brainfever bird on the ground. Next day, I wrote to Dr. Asad R Rahmani about the rare event. A few days later, I received a letter from Dr. Rahmani which read, 'The black-headed oriole is generally an arboreal bird but for drinking water it comes to the ground. I have seen a photograph of a golden oriole drinking water from a waterhole in a forest. Even brainfever bird is regularly seen on the ground picking up hairy caterpillars which have fallen down from trees'. I think, it is interesting to note that some species that are entirely arboreal and seen on ground are often omnivorous birds (eg., oriole, hawk-cuckoo, hornbill)

© Uruj Shahid

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