“Two Sundays ago while cycling at Pasir Ris Park, a series of loud squawking stopped me dead in the midst of my pedalling. It was definitely the sounds from some birds. Curious to find out the source, I dismounted and walked quietly to a tree where the squawking was heard.
“At first glance, one feathered friend was spotted. Then, two appeared. Both were busy having their breakfast and did not seem perturbed by the close proximity of my presence. Their sharp claws grasped the seed pods while their beaks cracked open the pods to reach the seeds inside.”
Gerard Goh
Yesterday…Today…Tomorrow
June 2009
Note: The birds are Tanimbar Corella (Cacatua goffini) and they are feeding on the seeds of golden shower (Cassia fistula), a commonly planted roadside tree. This is the most impressive of the cassias as the large hanging flowering bunches make a spectacular sight, especially after a long period of dry weather. The corella has been earlier photographed eating the green pods. Here, they are seen going for both the green (above right) as well as the ripe black pods (above left). These pods do not split open as with most legumes. They need to be smashed to expose the seeds, embedded in a sticky sweet pulp. The powerful bill of these parrots make it the only known bird relishing these fruits.
2 Responses
The fruit is black and used traditionally for constipation. So, i wonder this bird can be affected with diarrhea?