The red-vented bulbul - a Hawaiian flycatcher


A native to India, the red-vented bulbul is now a common resident on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.  Released from captivity in the mid-950s, it has spread over the island.  They are considered invasive in that the birds damage crops, are aggressive towards other birds, and out-compete native species for food.

I saw this bird while visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu.  It brought to mind North American flycatchers as I watched it.  Sitting high up on a branch where its vision was not blocked, it would suddenly dash out a short distance and pluck an insect from the air then return from where it flew.  Bulbuls also eat fruits and flower petals and buds.  It is estimated that they cause about $300,000 in damage to the orchid industry each year.

The red-vented bulbul was one of the first birds identified as requiring vitamin C in its diet.  They are incapable of synthesizing the vitamin on their own.  Insects are eaten as a protein source, but fruits are where they get other vital nutrients from.  Consequently, they inadvertently are responsible for spreading invasive plants from seeds released in their droppings.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The passing of a generation

Image
Kathryn's mom and dad with our children, Josh and Leanne. A generation, for North America, tends to be between 20 and 30 years.  During that time a couple will give birth and raise children to see them repeat the pattern as they themselves have done.  Each generation has its own set of standards, values, and ideals based upon their experiences and culture, and some of that is passed down to their offspring.  What changes are the life experiences of the following generation and the new customs and ideals that are blended together as a couple becomes a family. Kathryn's mom passed away a few days ago, she was predeceased by her husband several years ago.  Both of them were the grandparents of my children, the mother and father of my wife, Kathryn.  It was my pleasure to know them and to love them as my own, for to me they were Mom and Dad.  And they were there to welcome my children into the world just as my children were with them in spirit when they left it.   We ourselves have
Read more

Hang in there, things will get better.

Image
The Svendsen Family - Eric, Samuel, Leanne, Joshua (top row), Nora, Kathryn, Chanelle, Emma If I could go back, in my mind, to a day in my life when I was really down, it would be nice to be able to see into the future.  If could see things as they are today, with the many blessings that have been given to me, it would give me hope knowing that things wouldn't always be so discouraging.   The message here is we do not know what the future holds.  When things are bad, it is hard to raise your head out of the mire to see beyond the darkness.  There are no guarantees, of course, that things will be better, but I think it is true that fortunes ebb and flow as tides do.  The trick is to see beyond the low points and not be too haughty during the high ones.  I know that, at this moment, things are very good.  What the future holds is unknown, but low and high points are likely in the forecast.   This is why taking satisfaction from the moment is so important.  Instead of looking forward
Read more

Northern Rough winged swallow

Image
Northern Rough Winged Swallow - a new species for me. There are a number of bird groups that I find hard to identify species in.  The ones that immediately spring to mind are gulls and flycatchers. The key to identifying a bird species is to look for morphology clues such as size and colour.  Particular features such as beak and leg form will often help you to identify a bird to at least the family level.  Beyond that, you need specifics such eye rings, breast pattern, wing or tail bars, and so on.  Habitat, behaviour, and location may also play a role in identification. In the example above, my thinking is that the bird is a flycatcher.  It doesn't fit any of the patterns for the swallows we have here.  There is no eye ring, no crest, and the bird is has a buff-coloured breast without a pattern and a brownish-coloured back, sides, and wings.  There are no wing or tail bars.  It is also small in size.  This leads me to believe it is either a pewee or phoebe.   Given the fact that I
Read more