Livistona decipiens

Koel remains seated on a bunch of fruit for quite some time and during that period it does not permit any other bird to come near the tree. I have seen a bird swallowing three fruits in a period of half an hour.The same observation is valid when Koel feeds on the fruits of Polyalthia longifolia (MAST TREE/ ASOKA/ DEBDARU).

Attaching a collage where male and female koel are in the process of regurgitation.

Yesterday I saw a male Koel sitting on the branch of Santalum album (CHANDAN) tree in our garden. It was taking a siesta. I observed the bird from 3.19 PM till 3.50 PM when the bird flew off. I observed the bird regurgitate the fruits of Livistona decipiens ( the tree is nearby) at certain interval. The bird swallows the regurgitated fruit again. But at one stage one of the regurgitated fruit fell down but after some time it regurgitated another fruit. In an earlier occasion I saw a Koel swallowing four fruits one after another. My inference is Koels  swallow number of fruits of Livistona dicipiens at a time and then the bird regurgitates these fruits.

Time wise observation was as under

( a ) 3.19 pm  the bird was located

( b ) 3.28 pm first instance of regurgitation

( c ) 3.30 pm second instance of regurgitation

( d ) 3.33 pm third instance of regurgitation

( e ) 3.34 pm fourth instance of regurgitation( this fruit was dropped )

( f ) 3.35 pm fifth instance of regurgitation

( g ) 3.41 pm sixth instance of regurgitation

( h ) 3.41 pm  —— do ———-

( j ) 3.42 pm seventh instance of regurgitation

( k ) 3.46 pm eighth instance of regurgitation

( l )3.49 pm ninth instance of regurtitation

A collage is attached.

Thank you … for the input. It explains the phenomenon. I have seen it in case of two distinct plant species.

(a) LIVISTONA DECIPIENS (WEEPING CABBAGE PALM)

(b) POLYALTHIA LONGIFOLIA (MAST TREE/ DEBDARU/ ASOK)

But I have not seen it incase of Santalum album ( CHANDAN ).

We are having a CHANDAN tree in our house. I have recorded lot of activities of birds and butterflies on this particular tree. In fact it remains a living laboratory in our house.

---

  

Hello, attaching a collage depicting the following sequences.

(1) The bird is swallowing the fruit of Livistona decipiens after regurgitating the fruit (note the black colour of the fruit).

(2) The bird has regurgitated the seed after digesting the edible part and ready to discard the seed (note the colour of the seed)

(3) The bird has discarded the seed (open beak)

(4)  Discarded seeds on the ground.

---

There is a Livistona decipiens (WEEPING CABBAGE PALM) next to my house. The tree is full of fruits at this time of the year. Koels started visiting the tree since December. When they are not feeding they guard the fruits. On 22-2-2017 I could record the following species of birds visiting the tree in span of half an hour in the afternoon.

( a ) BLUE THROATED BARBET

( b ) RED VENTED BULBUL

( c ) ROSE RING PARAKEET

( d ) KOEL ( M )

( e ) COMMON MYNA

( f ) JUNGLE MYNA

Attaching a collage of this event.

Wonderful catch and a rare sight to see a koel so out in the open

---