Every two or three years the Boerbean trees (Schotia Brachypetala) on campus bloom. The flowers, with their life-giving nectar, attract hundreds of birds, which makes for high drama. Wattled starlings, Blue starlings, Pale-winged starlings, Barbets, Weavers, and Bulbuls all compete for a sip of the lovely liquid. They don’t only take nectar, they also fulfill the important function of pollinators since the pollen sticks to their beaks and faces as they flit from flower to flower.
This spectacle is a highlight for me each time it happens. This time I had to wait two years for it to occur. For a hobby photographer like me, it doesn’t get much better than this. The birds are so hungry and greedy for the nectar that they don’t fly away when you approach, which allowed me to snap some nice pictures. It proves you don’t have to go far to appreciate the spectacle of nature.
Carola Beyer
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