Why are birds crazy about Figs?

A Green Pigeon enjoying a Fig

If you thought this post is entirely about figs, you are mistaken! But then, Figs or Anjeer as it is known in Hindi is a bright red fruit growing in bunches on massive trees. People might eat it as a fruit directly from the tree, but then it is also served as a dried delicacy. Figs can also be cooked, roasted with Cinamon or sauteed. You can also have figs in ice cream, and sweets like fig burfi - a sweet dish we always buy from a Dhaba at Bhajan on the way to Moradabad.

However, birds seem to love this fruit, Bulbuls, Green Pigeons, Barbets and Tailor birds and even Oriental White-eyes. What draws them to this fruit might be that it is a highly nutritious fruit which will help these birds tide over the relatively harsh winter months.

The humble fig is also revered for its medicinal properties with people claiming it to be good for the eyes. However, once when I was told to eat it straight from the tree, I broke it open and saw insects wriggling amongst the myriads of seeds nestling inside the flesh. He saw me looking at the insects and told me to ignore the insects and instead eat the fruit with the insect -  I did not oblige him!

Barbets enjoy Figs at any time!

But then, again, this post is not about the relationship that exists between human beings and the humble fig, rather, it is more about why Figs are most important for birds, especially the ones that live on fruits! The Fig is to Green Pigeons what Bamboo shoots are to Pandas. I have seen Green Pigeons gorge on Figs till it looks like they will burst open. It is fascinating to see Green Pigeons gobble up Figs that seem too big to swallow. But then it is not just the Green Pigeon that gorges on Figs, the Barbet too, seems to enjoy eating figs all the time.

The winter months of December and January are the months when Figs can be found in abundance on Fig trees and they are a magnet for all kinds of frugivorous birds. While Tailor birds and Oriental White Eyes might be common enough, what draws one's attention are the Green Pigeons and Barbets for the very reason that they are less commonly seen! The rapid urbanization taking place all over the cities of the country is bound to impact the number of Fig trees and the population of frugivorous birds they support.

It is a blessing to be able to spot some of the most amazing frugivorous birds in the school which has a number of important Fig trees. Trees support a wide range of insects, birds, fungi and small rodents that constitute an important ecosystem. But then it is not just for supporting birds and insects that we need to save the Fig trees but rather because of the fact that one day the humble Fig Fruit will be touted as the 'wonder fruit' like the Acai Berry or the Goji Berry!

A Barbet deciding which Fig fruit to eat first.