Grasshopper Buffet – 10,000 Birds

The southern forests of the island of Trinidad are dwelling to the much-maligned Moruga Grasshopper. Most frequently encountered close to to the village bearing the identical identify, this considerable grasshopper finally sprouts giant wings and kinds swarms which may decimate crops. Its tendency in direction of this behaviour has earned it the unlucky title of “pest” – from as early as 1918. Worldwide organisations have offered “help” to the federal government of Trinidad & Tobago over time to placate residents and aggrieved farmers. This has clearly concerned the lively concentrating on of Moruga Grasshopper eggs and younger, and an all-out assault involving chemical warfare. However little has been mentioned about its ecological operate.

Considerable animals like grasshoppers are all the time considerable for a purpose. In nature, nothing is with out function; human intervention is what has turned a peaceable forest dweller right into a demonic pest in any case. Throughout the dense forests of southern Trinidad, the Moruga Grasshopper develops in relative silence. Whereas driving slowly alongside a abandoned roadway, this silence was damaged not by my automobile engine, however by a barely discernible pitter-patter of younger grasshoppers escaping being run over. Previous to going there, I hadn’t a clue that the presence of grasshoppers was going to be this prevalent – and pivotal. The entire purpose I used to be exploring this space might be traced to a report of a number of sightings of small teams of the migratory Yellow-billed Cuckoo. When one in all my buddies despatched me a message for ID, he let me know that by his estimate there have been not less than 25 birds on this patch of forest. Naturally, I needed to examine.

Certain sufficient, as soon as we stopped it didn’t take lengthy to see the primary Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Then a second, and a 3rd. A Squirrel Cuckoo was additionally bounding alongside the branches with their smaller relative. A Black-tailed Tityra croaked from close by as effectively. One thing was attracting all these birds, and maintaining them right here. Just a few pictures later I understood it completely – an open banquet of grasshoppers!

Yellow-billed Cuckoos having fun with the feast. Moruga Grasshoppers had been ubiquitous no matter top above the bottom. I later came upon that grasshoppers and caterpillars represent 75% of the diet of Yellow-billed Cuckoos.

Suffice to say it wasn’t a day for images, however the birding was wonderful. Be happy to take a look at the morning’s lists here and here.

A Squirrel Cuckoo batters a grasshopper excessive within the cover. Though the grasshoppers had been low down as effectively, a lot of the predation we noticed was going down at neck-breaking angles.

A Variegated Flycatcher was one other uncommonly encountered chook that was noticed within the melee. This species is distinctly South American and doesn’t share the identical trajectory because the Yellow-billed Cuckoos.

Whereas I didn’t see this Plain-brown Woodcreeper seize something to eat, it was nonetheless thrilling to see.

This obtained me questioning about how vital a meals supply the grasshoppers are to migratory birds just like the Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Clearly they had been piling on the energy for his or her northbound migration and so they had been effectively conscious of the meals supply lining the leaves and branches right here. Different birds just like the austral migrant Plumbeous Kite and resident Double-toothed Kite are well-known for his or her choice for grasshoppers.

Double-toothed Kite

This Brief-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant is way smaller than an grownup grasshopper! A quick, insect-esque motion within the timber caught my consideration, however I nonetheless wanted binoculars to understand the chook. In spite of everything, it’s the smallest passerine on the planet, and a thrill to lastly get a adequate view of 1.

In spite of everything this, the Moruga Grasshopper stays a pest. Allow us to hope {that a} higher understanding of the ecological function of this species might be gleaned earlier than a struggle on an insect leads to the unravelling of far more than we’re ready for.