The gardens at Chiang Dao Hut provide food and shelter for many species of birds throughout the year. One of the distinctive visitors that can often be seen moving among flowering trees is the Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna).
With its long, curved bill and heavily streaked underparts, the Streaked Spiderhunter is easy to recognize when it comes close to feed. Its specialized bill allows it to reach deep into flowers to drink nectar, although its diet also includes insects and spiders.
Visiting the Pink Powder Puff Flowers
At Chiang Dao Hut, Streaked Spiderhunters can be observed visiting the bright flowers of the Pink Powder Puff tree.
When the flowers are in bloom, they become a natural feeding station. The birds move quickly between the branches, sometimes hanging upside down or stretching into unusual positions to reach the nectar.
These moments are especially interesting for birdwatchers and photographers because they show the natural relationship between birds and the plants growing around the gardens.
A Garden Designed Around Nature
We grow a variety of flowering plants, shrubs and trees around Chiang Dao Hut. Rather than creating a garden only for decoration, we also want it to provide natural food and habitat for birds, butterflies, insects and other wildlife.
Different flowers bloom at different times of the year, attracting different visitors and gradually changing the bird activity around the property.
The Streaked Spiderhunter is a good example of how even a single flowering tree can create opportunities to observe wildlife at close range.
Birdwatching Around Chiang Dao Hut
You do not always need to travel deep into the forest to enjoy birdwatching in Chiang Dao.
Early in the morning, the gardens and trees around Chiang Dao Hut can be surprisingly active. Sunbirds, spiderhunters, flowerpeckers, bulbuls and other garden birds may visit flowering and fruiting trees in search of food.
For us, these everyday encounters are part of the experience of staying close to nature in Chiang Dao.
