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India.com
22-05-2025
- India.com
6 Most Surprising Birdwatching Spots In Shillong City
Shillong is a city located in the northeastern part of India, and the rich green hillscapes along with the foggy views of nature in Meghalaya make it so beautiful that the state is tinted with the title 'Scotland of the East'. Apart from alluring visitors with its scenic quality, the city serves as a hotspot to numerous birdwatchers. Avian lovers can witness an intriguing variety of bird species amidst quaint lakes and dense wooded areas. Shillong may be an urban area, but its serene locations are ideal for observing migrating and native birds. This article will outline the unexplored yet spectacular bird watching locations across Shillong City. 1. Ward's Lake Due to moderate weather and a plethora of lifescapes Ward's Lake (also known as Lady Hydari Park) located in Shillong city is surrounded by gardens and several walking passes. It may be well known due to these features, but the picturesque artificial lake appears to be a hotspot for waterbirds and other aquatic species. These benefits make Ward's Lake an incredible site that fulfills the desires of bird watchers looking for a chance to view these stunning beings at close distances. Birdwatchers wanting to capture the sights and sounds of nature will enjoy all the species of water birds found in Ward's Lake. Stanly, purple swamphen, and little egret can be observed at the lake, whereas northern pintails and garganeys pop by during winters. The surrounding region is also home to an assortment of vibrant passerines inclusive of sunbirds, flycatchers, and bulbuls. One unique aspect of Ward's Lake is that even those who do not actively seek it out can spot it due to its central location which makes it easy to admire nature without the need to travel far from the city. 2. Umiam Lake Fishing, bird watching, and walking are only a handful of activities available by Umiam Lake located 15 kilometers north of Shillong that tourists will love. Damming the Umiam River creates this scenic reservoir allowing easy capture of diverse birds throughout the seasons. The calm atmosphere around the water makes it easier to capture both local and migratory birds, making it a gem for birdwatchers. Andaman-specialist Pramod lists some unique species spotted around the lake including cormorants, herons and kingfishers. Osprey Kites can be seen soaring over the water, hunting for fish, while Pied Bush Chats, Jungle Babblers and Warblers can be seen along the undergrowth. For the patient observer, Umiam Lake does offer a glimpse of the shy Himalayan Woodpecker and the Chestnut-Headed Tesia in the early morning. The region offers a dual appeal – as a popular tourist location with Umiam Lake, as well as a wildlife sanctuary at the edge of Shillong. This makes it an ideal day trip for people who want to indulge in leisure time while also enjoying bird watching. 3. Bishop Falls Bishop Falls is known mainly for its waterfall – a stunning cascade that drops from a height of 370 feet surrounded by stunning scenery – but it is also a favorite among bird watchers. Located 5 Kms from Shillong, this picturesque site boasts a stunning drop laden with rich greenery and foliage covering the mountain, creating a microhabitat. Every tourist's delight, the thundering sound of cascades combining with chirping birds creates a harmony like no other. The region encircling Bishop Falls is home to myriad bird species that are characteristic to this particular forest ecosystem. Nature enthusiasts can try their luck at spotting barbets, minivets and laughing thrushes as they flit from branch to branch. Black eagles and sparrowhawks can be spotted soaring in the skies above as they look out for their next meal. And if you're fortunate enough, you might come across Mrs. Gould's stunning sunbird or the fire-tailed myzornis, both of which flourish in the cooler regions of the area. Gorgeous sceneries combined with plentiful wildlife make Bishop Falls one of the best tourist spots in the area of Shillong. Though accessing Bishop Falls is a bit challenging due to the tight road systems, the picturesque waterfall is worth the trip. 4. Sweet Falls Another one of the waterfalls located in the city limits of Shillong is the 'Sweet Falls.' This waterfall is one of the tallest, plunging from a height of 96 feet into a rocky gorge capped by dense foliage. Remaining hidden underneath the green cover are birds, many of which are endemic to northeastern Himalayas, that add life to this already vibrant region. Sweet Falls is very popular among birdwatchers for the grey-headed canary-flycatcher. This small bird is stunning with a body of bright lemon-yellow and a slate-gray head. Other prominent residents include the blue-throated barbet who calls from deep within the forest and the slaty-backed forktail who can often be seen near the stream banks. Mixed-species flocks composed of yuhinas, nuthatches, and fulveta's as well as bigger birds like hornbills add even more vibrancy to these beautiful landscapes. Sweet Falls is perfect for anyone looking to escape and connect more deeply with nature. Due to its scenic and remote location, there is little disturbance to the area, allowing the birds to behave naturally. This in turn, results in remarkable opportunities for observation and photography. 5. Shillong Peak At over 6,000 feet, Shillong Peak is the highest point in shilling. It is well known for being a gateway into some incredible high altitude bird watching. It also offers stunning views of the natural landscape. Due to the extreme altitude and cooler temperatures, the peak is home to a distinct group of avifauna which have adapted to the thinner air. Every spring and summer, the slopes of Shillong Peak are rich in biodiversity. The area becomes home to different species of birds like the rufous-gorgeted flycatcher and the white-browed shortwing. While in winter, we can spot migratory birds like the alpine accentor and the red-flanked bluetail. Raptors also such as lammergeiers and Himalayan griffons add drama to the already impressive scenery of the place. Moderate hiking is required to reach the peak, but the views observed from the top are impressive and provide a sense of peace. Furthermore, access to barely anywhere else in the city is also presented which gives the unique opportunity to bird spot different species that are localized. 6. Don Bosco Museum Grounds Close to the well known Don Bosco Museum, the museum's grounds serve as a base for one of Shillong's hidden birdwatching spots. While dealing with cultures and history, the museum captivates a wide audience which ends up missing out on the wildlife spectacle the museum's grounds offers. The wooded areas and open spaces enable a mix of habitat types to attract everything from tiny flowerpeckers to large hornbills. Highlights include the crimson-breasted barbet, the velvet-fronted nuthatch, and the streaked spiderhunter. During certain seasons, the orange-headed thrush and the verditer flycatcher can be spotted resting at the grounds during migration. The Don Bosco Museum grounds stand out because they are convenient to the city center. They are easily accessible and seldom crowded, making them ideal for both novice and experienced birders. Plus, it is more enjoyable to have a cultural outing and go birdwatching at the same time. Final Thoughts 'Shillong is a busy city but it has some incredible wild areas which Shillong bird watchers will appreciate.' This is true, as the city has many hidden gems that are not exclusively tourist attractions. When you walk around the beautifully tended gardens of Ward's Lake or hike to the summit of Shillong Peak or bask in the calm of Sweet Falls, you can experience nature at its best. These are some of the unexpected places one can go birdwatching in the city and they prove how important it is to protect urban green areas for not only people's leisure but wildlife too. To the more adventurous types, birdwatching in Shillong is guaranteed to be one of the things that you will remember most. With some effort, good eyesight, and maybe some good binoculars, you will find a city which is altogether a dream for people who love birds. So get your kit ready because the stunning birds of Shillong are waiting to be explored.
The Guardian
08-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: In praise of the ‘low-value' sycamore tree
Sunbeams flicker through the translucent young foliage of the sycamore canopy overhead. A shadow darts among them: a blackcap, pecking aphids from the underside of the leaves. The insects hatched from overwintering eggs in early April, congregating on loosening bud scales, waiting for tender new leaves to unfurl. Now there are legions of them, aligned along leaf veins, hypodermic stylets plugged in, siphoning sweet sap while simultaneously giving birth to more. They stand with regimented parade-ground spacing, just close enough to stay in touch with their long antennae. A shiver of fidgeting sweeps through the colony as the blackcap approaches. Blackcaps are one of several warbler species that eat sycamore aphids. Photograph: Phil Gates Conservationists are quick to point out that sycamore sits close to the bottom of an oft-quoted league table of diversity of insect species hosted by trees, but there is an alternative measure of the tree's value. That superabundance of a single aphid species contributes to a food web of warblers, tits, hirundines and predatory insects. It's an ecosystem asset. A 20-metre specimen can host an estimated 2.5 million aphids, diverting its photosynthetic energy into fuelling their own exponential reproductive potential. They in turn fall prey to hoverfly larvae, ladybirds and lacewings. In summer, the winged adults join the aerial plankton hunted by swallows, house martins and swifts. Survivors will lay overwintering eggs in leaf buds, ready for next spring's population explosion. Sycamore, non-native and invasive, is perhaps our least-loved deciduous tree. As long ago as 1664, John Evelyn, in his Sylva, a treatise on Britain's trees, despised sycamore for its 'honey-dew leaves, which fall … and mar our walks', and wanted to see it 'banished from gardens and avenues'. Motorists might concur if they park in its shade and find cars covered in a sticky film of honeydew, excess tree sap that falls in a constant rain from aphid anuses after they've extracted nutrients they need. And yet, for all the species' purported faults, the felling of the famous Sycamore Gap specimen, a landmark on Hadrian's Wall familiar to generations of walkers, provoked an outpouring of public grief and outrage. Sentiment, as well as science, has a powerful influence on attitudes to our flora and fauna. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Migratory songbird's gut may contain answers
Researchers studying how the Yellow-rumped Warbler — a bird common to Frederick County this time of year — digests wax myrtle berries say the findings could lead to insights about invasive species, ecological impacts and possibly even how to recycle plastics. Data from eBird, a database of observations compiled by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, say that observations of the Yellow-rumped Warbler in Frederick County spike both in late April into early May and in October. The bird appears in over 1 in 3 submitted checklists from the county in the eBird database during those periods. Robert Fleischer, emeritus research zoologist at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, said it is "not a rare bird at this point." Fleischer is an advisor to Alison Fowler, a post-doctoral researcher at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, on the research into the species that many birders call a "Butterbutt." The Yellow-rumped Warbler, a migratory songbird, spends its summers in northern Canada and much of the northern United States. During the winter, the Butterbutt stays in and around Maryland while other types of Warblers migrate further south. The Yellow-rumped Warbler has evolved to be able to digest wax myrtle berries and bayberries, which are common in the region in places like Assateague Island National Seashore. Fleischer said that while some robins and cedar waxwing can also eat these types of berries, "in terms of an insectivorous bird, this is very unusual." This adaptation helps the bird survive winters — at unusually northern latitudes — when insects, a major part of its normal diet, are hard to find. The waxy berries have high fat content, which Fleischer called "fat bombs." Exploring the implications of this rare trait inspired Fowler to apply for a biodiversity fellowship with the Smithsonian. "It provides an interesting insight into these adaptation strategies that we don't see too often," she said. Fowler has received funding both through a competitive grant and other internal resources, which allowed her to work with a team of over 14 as the project had expanded and grown. "It's been fun to work with so many types of scientists," Fowler said. Fleischer said that compared to a research institution, a national network provides for a wider breadth of research collaborators. "That's the beauty of the Smithsonian National Zoo," he said. The team caught Yellow-rumped Warblers in nets at Assateague National Seashore and Edgewater, collected fecal samples and released the birds. They also collected berries to study. The initial aim was to identify the bacteria in the Butterbutts' gut that allows it to digest the waxy coat surrounding the fatty berries. That led to questions about how diets change in captivity by studying those Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The study also looks at the microbiomes of other songbirds, using DNA sequencing, to compare different digestive systems. They have also looked into ecological impacts. "She keeps finding new paths to take," Fleischer said of Fowler. Fowler said that when looking at the whole ecosystem, the researchers wondered if both populations rely on each other. The wax myrtle grows in such specific regions and creates "monocultures" as Fleischer said, that perhaps the process of digestion helps spread the tree's seeds. However, the ability to spread seeds may have a downside that the researchers are also looking into. The Chinese tallow tree was introduced into the U.S. by Ben Franklin in 1776, according to the USDA. The Chinese tallow is considered invasive by the USDA and has berries that are toxic to cattle. Fowler said the Yellow-rumped Warbler could inadvertently be spreading the invasive species. "That's our worry," she said. Another area of study is how the bacteria in the birds' guts could be similar to those in insects. Fowler said that insects that can digest wax can also digest plastics because it is similar chemically. A next step for the researchers will be to test which of the bacteria identified through the research is able to digest wax or plastic on plates. "It may even help with recycling plastics down the road," Fleischer said. The researchers said that while they have identified bacteria of interest, they are still collecting data and performing tests. Fowler said they hoped to submit their findings for publication in around six months. Stacy Small-Lorenz, landscape and avian ecologist with the University of Maryland Extension, said people interested in seeing the birds this spring will have the best luck looking in forest or green spaces like parks or yards.
