Flame of the Forest: Sparking passions

The African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata), nicknamed the “Flame of the Forest”, sparked a fire of curiosity in me during the pandemic. 

Living in an apartment and being surrounded by concrete on all sides is a hallmark of our big, bustling metropolitan Indian cities. During the lockdown, I felt the presence of this concrete jungle even more loathsome. This was until…I stepped out onto the balcony and was engulfed by the vastness and vibrance of the three monstrous African Tulip trees! Each of them stood patiently, providing a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. 

The bright orange flowers of this proud tree depict the intensity of a forest fire. Due to this very reason, it has been bestowed upon with the unique and apt sobriquet. The vibrance of these flowers plays second fiddle to the vibrance of the ecosystem that it supports. A host of Jungle and Common Mynas, Coucals, Drongos, Rose-ringed Parakeets, Red-whiskered bulbuls and the White-cheeked barbets take shelter, and are dependent on the African Tulip Tree for food. The cup-shaped flowers attract Barbets due to the nectar they hold, which is a favourite among these birds. Their unique shape also allows for the collection of rainwater and dew, providing a refreshing drink for various species of birds. While the flowers are essential to the survival of diverse urban aves, they have a natural defence mechanism that is life-threatening for bees. The presence of toxins and the sticky nature of the inner wall of the flowers combine to keep insects and stingless bees at bay. 

The delicious buffet provided by the tree invites different species of birds, thus inspiring me to capture them on camera. An old Nikon Coolpix from the early 2000s was my companion in this adventure. The first avian wonder I photographed was a semi-camouflaged Rose-ringed Parakeet. Its vivid red beak gave it away. The thrill in capturing a bird that I had not taken much notice of previously was immense. This intriguing day kept me determined….determined to capture more birds. In the initial days, the photographs I took had terrible composition, the light balance was awry, and the pictures might not have pleased the eye. But as they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder! And I kept at my interest. 

The majestic trees continued to unfurl their beauty little by little in front of me. No two days provided the same scenery. Each day, a unique aspect of the tree came to life. The blooming of a flower, the opening of a seed pod, and its falling to the ground. I began observing the transformation of the tree as the seasons passed. 

Another unique feature of this tree is the seed pods it produces – they are large, woody, dark brown and shaped like canoes. These pods enclose over 500 tissue papery-like seeds. Parakeets with their strong curved beaks take advantage of these pods and feed on the delicious seeds inside. 

Meanwhile, inside me, the seeds of passion (for nature) began to grow. A deep connection with nature is key to its preservation. Small moments with the African Tulip trees fueled my enthusiasm. And these were moments I looked forward to every day. I realised that nature has tremendous healing powers. And just like that, the eerie silence of the pandemic was broken by the chirrupping of the cute bulbuls and the cries of the parakeet.

All photos by Pratham Kakodkar

About the author: Pratham Kakodkar is a senior school student, deeply passionate about the environment and sustainability. He enjoys bird and wildlife photography, and often combines these interests with creative writing to create a connect with nature. Find his work on Instagram.