h at Kuching by SINGH HSS, Amar - Borneo Bird Images

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image 6692 of Olive-backed Sunbird

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Olive-backed Sunbird

Latin Name : Cinnyris jugularis

Site Name : Kuching

Photographer : SINGH HSS, Amar

Date : 2012-09-10

Notes : Remarks

Was at Kuching for a regional paediatric congress and, as usual, triedto see what the city has to offer. Generally too much construction anddevelopment and bird life has diminished from when I worked there in the late1980s. At that time I experienced a bird watcher’s paradise.

I had an interesting observation on the waterfront of the city. I saw a breedingpair (from the delightful, rich plumage) of Olive-backed Sunbirds feeding extensivelyon Bougainvillea flowers.

The problem is that I do not consciously remember every having seen a birdfeed on Bougainvillea flowers in all my years of watching. I had always assumedthat they did not contain nectar. Locally they are called “Bunga Kertas”,translated “paper flowers”, implying their ornamental value. I have always beenagainst my city council planting them as they are of little value to wildlife,especially birds.

There are even reports, if you do a net search, that Bougainvillea flowerstrick hummingbirds into wasting precious energy trying to drink from emptyblossoms.

So I was curious as to these two busily visiting every flower in the patchof Bougainvillea. Definitely nectar sources have diminished in the city. So arethere two getting seom small bits from these flowers or also fooled?

I wonder if anyone has experience with botany to state that Bougainvilleaflowers have nectar, or if it varies for different sub-species of Bougainvillea.

A short video of female and then male feeding here:

http://youtu.be/1X8oH7LH9Zc

Amar