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Project Noah Nature School
Dinopium benghalense
No mistaking its typical woodpecker shape. Golden yellow wing coverts and black rump. It has a red crown. Throat is black with white marks. The tail is a perfect balancing tool as can be seen in the photos.
Theatre Road is in the heart of urban Kolkata(Calcutta) and traffic here is killing. But the Aurobindo Ashram has a small space for meditation. The ashram is a quiet place with a tiny unkempt lawn and a few old (tall) trees), a couple of shops selling ashram products and a parking space! This Woodpecker was a visitor to one of the trees here...the tree seems to be on its last legs and so, the wood would be soft and easy to drill. The bird explored the many holes already bored (Barbet nests?) and appeared to have a hearty meal.
I am always overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness when I realize that wildlife is still hanging on...despite urbanization, despite pollution, despite everything...this sighting made me very happy although it is not a rare bird but a woodpecker that is known to be urban...still.
Spotted on Dec 8, 2016
Submitted on Dec 8, 2016
3 Comments
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated Sukanya!
Thank you, Liana.
Great info Sukanya. I hear you too. Watching the human spread and what that does to wildlife is, at times, quite disheartening. Which is exacerbated by the "need" for further development into areas that are necessary for species that are vulnerable to breed or stopover. I guess that's why we are all so into documenting and educating people about all the wonderful little critters out there :) Thank you for sharing. Liana