Butea monosperma or the Flame-of-the-forest is difficult to miss in early summer - bright clusters of flowers cover the canopy giving the tree its common name. The flowers are visited by a variety of insects, birds and some mammals. Here, a Rose-ringed Parakeet (a common resident species) digs into the keel-shaped lower petals of the flower to lick up the nectar. But the parakeet needs to work for the reward - the stamen pops out and smacks pollen on the forehead of the bird. As the bird visits different flowers and trees, it pollinates the flowers. A surprisingly large number of Butea trees still persist in the state - this photograph is from Farrukhabad district. Since the landscape is flat and largely agricultural, flowering trees stand out like beacons, and the floor below them gets carpeted with falling petals. A dash of orange (bottom photo) lighting up the usual earth colours! (Photographs date: Apr 4, 2009)
I started this blog to primarily share photographs taken during my PhD field work (2008-2010). I have since expanded this to include observations made during my travels to areas with Sarus, and also other crane species. The idea is to showcase the landscapes that cranes live in. The homes of only 15 species can have incredible diversity of life and human habits. Through cranes, I started to write about areas dominated by humans and human activity, but have now expanded to include the rest of the world. I remain a life-long student of natural history, and this blog is to showcase the things that I encountered and wondered at.
Butea monosperma or the Flame-of-the-forest is difficult to miss in early summer - bright clusters of flowers cover the canopy giving the tree its common name. The flowers are visited by a variety of insects, birds and some mammals. Here, a Rose-ringed Parakeet (a common resident species) digs into the keel-shaped lower petals of the flower to lick up the nectar. But the parakeet needs to work for the reward - the stamen pops out and smacks pollen on the forehead of the bird. As the bird visits different flowers and trees, it pollinates the flowers. A surprisingly large number of Butea trees still persist in the state - this photograph is from Farrukhabad district. Since the landscape is flat and largely agricultural, flowering trees stand out like beacons, and the floor below them gets carpeted with falling petals. A dash of orange (bottom photo) lighting up the usual earth colours! (Photographs date: Apr 4, 2009)
Wow great photography... really lovely and good post too... keep it up.
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