Nature’s messengers!

Cuckoo bird

Erabadu flowers

The call of the koel and the red robed erabadu blossoms are cues that the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is around the corner. A time of spreading the message of unity and joy, the Avurudu season is a much looked forward to event in the country.

Koha

The koha aka Asian Koel or cuckoo heralds the season with its melodious call. Though many believe that the bird migrates to the island to bring the Avurudu message to our home, the cuckoo is found in Sri Lanka all year round. Most of these birds have entered the island to settle down from Singapore but the cuckoo resides in India, South China and Australasia.

The male cuckoo’s call actually signifies its need to find a mate. The cuckoo’s breeding season is in April and coincides with the Avurudu festivities. This black, red-eyed bird pursues a spotted brownish bird which is called the thith koha. This is not another cuckoo species but the female Asian

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