18.03.2018 - Meeting the Coucal at Pulau Carey!

On 18.03.2018, I had to continue the temple cleaning works at the another portion of the temple at Pulau Carey. Once again I went earlier to take some shots. Again at the rain tree, near the bridge. I was greeted by a flock of Ashy Minivets and of course, the Yellow Vented Bulbul, which was busy having their breakfast.

Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)

Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)

Yellow Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)

Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)

Then I proceed to the another usual spot, the dead pine tree. I managed to click on the Blue Tailed Bee-eater and the Black Winged Kite.

Black Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Blue Tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

Few meter away, I saw a big bird picking up a small stick on a grass patch adjacent to the plantation area. It was a Greater Coucal. I tried to get closer and it flew reluctantly, then perched on a oil palm tree. Greater Coucal is know as "semputru paravai" (செம்புற்று பறவை) or "shenbaga paravai" (செண்பக பறவை) in Tamil, is often associated with the mythical Sanjeevi herbs and for its usage in some Tantric rituals. This bird had been named as "Greater Crow Pheasant" by a British naturalist, G.H.W. Davison during the colonization era here in Malaysia. Greater Coucals are known to forage on the ground for food, which made them to be classified wrongly as a game bird.

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

I would like to share some information on the Coucal and the mythical root of Sanjeevi, which I had read in an article in the 1990's. Sanjeevi root is a mythical herb which can make invincible against any physical attacks. In order to find the root, one has to find the nest of the Coucal with its nestlings. when the parent bird is gone to find food, tie a piece of steel wire on the nestling's feet and move away from the nest. Pick a good observation point and see if the parent bird returning to nest. As soon as the parent bird return to the nest for feeding its young, it will realize that its young's leg is being tied by the wire. It will then flew away and bring a "root" to the nest. As soon as it place the root on the steel wire, it will snap and the parent bird will flee from the location with its young. The nest is then careful taken to a small stream. The nest materials were let in the stream piece by piece in order to find the root. How? While all the ordinary nest materials flow along with the stream, the Sanjeevi root will "flow" against the stream's flow direction. One has to quickly grab the root, and embed it in the right thigh. This will grant the invincibility.

Another version of the story mentioned that the abandoned nest need to be burnt. Since Sanjeevi root cant be burnt, one can recover it from the ash of the burnt nest. There is another version of the story mentioned that the mythical root can be recovered from the nest of a Brahminy Kite. No one knows which is true. In Indonesia, the bird is used to prepare a traditional ointment which is applied for joint and muscle aches. The methodology, you may google about it...its pure cruelty.

I proceed further in and spotted a Crested Serpent Eagle sunning itself on a utility pole. There were many other birds which I had "heard" here, some of them giving out weird calls. One with a call similar to a puppy and one more like a hog. They were unseen till this very day. I hope to shoot them soon.

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela malayensis)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela malayensis)