Indian Silverbill - Eudice malabarica
I am sorry for posting a day late - I was struck down by a chicken pesto sandwich. I managed to travel around Sri Lanka unscathed and then get felled by an executive panini by the caterer of choice to most of the bankers, accountants and lawyers in Emaar Square.
I took this picture when I was supposed to be looking at captive animals at Al Ain zoo. As zoos go Al Ain is pretty good. Perhaps too many big cats and white lions etc. to cater to local tastes but you do get the sense that the animals have space and so on. As I understand it the zoo is being converted to focus on programmes for arabian mammals etc which can only be good news. If you want a lesson in Arabian forna a trip to Sharjah's natural history museum is an eye opener. Baboons, leopards, foxes, wildcats, mountain goats, deer and all manner of snakes and reptiles
Back to the post - a flock of Silverbills was feeding on grass seeds in a flowerbed and "tinkling" and flitting around a chain mesh fence. We always see these birds feeding in plantings of this fluffy grass. We planted a couple of rows at home and very quickly we were getting visits from small flocks of these birds. A typical finch and seed specialist they of course remind me of goldfinches back home. My father tried his hand at creating a wildflower meadow at home but the thing got away from him and he went back to lawn. For a period though I would walk down the garden and flush flocks of goldfinch 50-100 strong. The numbers of butterflys was astounding as well.
I think when I retire I am going to buy up a few fields and just plant grasses, dig a pond and bung in a small copse and then just let the thing run riot. Unfortunately in Dubai it takes water to keep grasses growing - I am not sure how well Indian Silverbills do out in the desert but for the sake of quick spray every day they are lovely to have around.
Indian silverbill - Eudice malabarica
Al Ain Zoo, UAE - 10 January 2010
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