Photo Feature
Red Avadavat
<p>Light as a feather, a Red Avadavat <em>Amandava amandava</em> alights on a garden Verbena flower. The feather in its beak will soften and warm the nest for its nestlings. Inspired by the wilderness around, we humans have tried to introduce grasses in the form of tame, domesticated gardens. These small patches of green host water-intensive grasses, neat squares of exotic plants, hybridised flowers that largely attract the avians adapted to urbania, such as sparrows, crows and mynas. In the monsoon, the Red Avadavat, also known as Red Munia, collects long strands of fresh grass that trails behind them like a ribbon. The grass, skillfully woven into a globular nest, is capable of housing five to seven eggs. Sadly, thanks to their small size and bright colours, these birds are popular as cage birds. Coupled with habitat loss, the pet trade poses a huge threat to these tiny avians.</p>
<p><strong>Photo: </strong>S. Krishnamurthy.</p>