 Volume 13 – JUNE 2020   A Bird With The Quickest Digestion ; The Black-headed Oriole Fun facts The Black-headed Oriole, is a bird which forages in mixed species and flocks on the canopies of trees, consuming a variety of invertebrates, fruits and seeds. They can be found in the stems of a fork in a slender tree branch, shaped into a deep cup, woven with old man’s beard strands, moss and grass. Lesser known facts Whilst the species will feed mainly on fruits, insects, berries and nectar, they are also known to have a very quick digestion period that is of around 5 minutes! They are known to nest in trees, in forks at the end of a branch, and it’s observed that there is no nesting period for the species. The mother bird is often observed to lay two eggs, and once hatched, the chicks are said to feed on caterpillars. Whereabouts This species of birds, informally known as the ‘Black-headed Oriole’ (Oriolus xanthornus), is a member of the ‘Oriole’ family of passerine birds. They are a resident breeder in tropical South Asia, including India, Sri Lanka and in the East from Indonesia, living predominantly in open woodlands and cultivations. This image of the bird was taken by our nature photographer Mindaka Mahela, in our Mahoora Tented Safari Camp, in Udawalawe National Park.  The Majestic Sri Lankan Leopard Fun facts Leopards are carnivorous and feed on a myriad of animals, ranging from sambur to hare, to langurs to rats. Locally known as the ‘Sri Lankan Leopard’ due to them being endemic to Sri Lanka, these leopards are known as Panthera pardus kotiya, with kotiya meaning ‘leopard/ tiger’ in local dialect. Scat analysis carried out on these leopards have found remains of crabs, frogs and other small vertebrates and invertebrates in their system. Lesser known facts The leopard is a very adaptable animal, who is able to adapt and occupy various spaces and places. There is even a record of a family of leopards occupying a football stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa which was only discovered when the population of domestic cats and dogs took a rapid decline! Leopards are nocturnal animals, but can also be encountered within the day, especially in the early morning hours and late evenings. They usually forage by themselves, except during the mating season or when the mother and cubs encounter themselves. The Sri Lankan Leopard, is undoubtedly the star attraction for both local and international wildlife enthusiasts. Panthera pardus kotiya, is a subspecies of leopards who are native to Sri Lanka and is unfortunately classified as an endangered species by the International union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with the reason for this decline being the rise of trade hunting, fragmentation and the loss of habitat. Whereabouts The best known location to find the Sri Lankan leopard is in their natural habitat; which is of course the Yala National Park and Wilpattu National Park. Whilst the leopards can usually be found in all varieties of habitats across the country, in the common day they are found re the forest conservation is predominant. Known to be nocturnal in their natural habitat, they can also be seen in the early morning hours or late evenings as mentioned prior, usually in the solitary, gliding through the bush areas. However, during the mating season, they are known to hunt in pairs and the mothers can be seen wandering with their cubs in tow. |
 The Chuck-chucking Indian Nightjar Fun facts Like other Nightjars, the indian Nightjar too has a wide gape, long wings, soft downy plumage and nocturnal habits. Its call is a loud, repetitive chuk-chuck-chuk-chuck noise, and feeds on nocturnal insects such as moths for food. This image of the Indian Nightjar was taken by our photographer Mindaka Mahela at our Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Wilpattu. Lesser known facts Unlike other Nightjars, the Indian Nightjar rarely rests on roads during the night, and prefers resting on bushes. This makes them harder to spot, since it is not so readily seen when travelling in vehicles with headlights. The Jerdon’s Nightjar has a variated buff and plumage. Whereabouts The Indian Nightjar, scientifically known as the Caprimulgus asiaticus, is a small nightjar which is a resident breeder in India, Sri Lankan and South-East Asia, and can be found in woodlands, scrubs and cultivation land – which is the natural habitat for a nocturnal bird. The Indian Nightjar flies after sundown with an easy, moth-like flight at night, and is very silent and lies close to the ground, concealed by its plumage during the day, making them difficult to detect as they blend in very well with the soil.  The Animal Which Speaks Like a Human; The Indian Brown Mongoose Fun facts Mongooses are a species that is active during the day, and asleep at night. They can be seen chattering incessantly with one another throughout the day, and when this chatter is combined, they sound somewhat like human speech – by using vowels and syllable combinations to coordinate group movements, foraging information and other important messages amongst one another. Some mongooses are legendary snake fights, with the Indian Mongoose being particularly known for its fondness of fighting the eating poisonous snakes, such as cobras. There are even some stories written on the topic, with the book “Rikki-tikki-tavi” written by Rudyard Kipling, being a popular classic that is about a young mongoose, who fights a cobra. Lesser known facts Mongooses are long, furry creatures with a pointed face and a bushy tail. Despite the popular belief, they are not rodents – although they may tend to even look like ones. Instead, they are members of the Herpestidae family, which also includes civets and meerkats. Some species of mongooses are extremely social and live in large groups, which are known as ‘colonies’; and these colonies can have as many as 50 members, whilst other mongooses tend to live alone. Whereabouts The Indian Brown Mongoose lives at an elevation range of 700-1300 meters (2300-4300 feet) above sea level in Sri Lanka, and can be found in locations like Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka. They can also be found in Europe, Asia and Africa. The Indian Brown Mongoose prefers rocky areas, but can also be found in forests and semi-aquatic areas (hence Horton Plains) and are easily adaptable therefore, making them less susceptible to being endangered. Sri Lanka has an amazing plethora of things to offer visitors. Among many picturesque destinations and marvellous historic constructions, wildlife and nature reserves take a front seat due to the incredible biodiversity you can observe in this small island. Hope you enjoy the stories from the Ceylon wilderness experienced first hand by the properties of Eco Team.  |
Source: Eco Team Newsletter