The Endangered Birds & Heroic Insects of TPI
Our partners at Tea Promoters India (TPI) recently shared their annual newsletter, reflecting on the inspiring biodiversity that is an integral part of life in the tea gardens we source from. The below contains excerpts from their newsletter, compiled by Director Ashwini Sashidhar, with photos by TPI’s own photographers Satya Deep Gurung and Noel Fanning. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the ecosystem of an Indian tea garden.
“Our enchanting photos, filled with images of various birds, plants and insects, act as a guiding light revealing the complex web of life that thrives within our tea farms. Each living creature plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining the fragile equilibrium crucial to our tea cultivation.
Through these photos, we hope to instill a deep respect, knowledge and awe for nature’s wonders hidden within our tea farms and to showcase to the world the transformative power of sustainable and organic practices and how these practices have the potential to gradually but firmly re-establish our relationship with Mother Earth.”
Sunbirds, Tree Pipits & Owls
Sunbirds, with their vibrant plumage and delicate, curved beaks, are vital players in the intricate dance of our tea garden ecosystem. As they flit from flower to flower, their slender bills probing deep within blossoms, they serve as nature’s diligent pollinators. Beyond nectar, sunbirds also play a role in insect control, consuming ants, small caterpillars, baby spiders, and small grasshoppers. Their remarkable agility and boundless energy make them swift and skilled fliers, their movements a testament to the dynamic pulse of life within our tea gardens. These tiny avians embody the spirit of vitality, enriching our tea garden ecosystem with their vibrant presence.
The Tree Pipit is a versatile songbird that seamlessly transitions between ground foraging and perching in the leafy canopy of trees. With a varied diet consisting primarily of insects like butterflies and Diptera, as well as other invertebrates such as spiders and small mollusks, the Tree pipit plays a crucial role in pest control on TPI’s organic tea farms. This agile avian also scours the ground and low vegetation for seeds and fruits. They actively contribute to the delicate ecosystem by naturally regulating insect populations and aiding in the dispersal of seeds.
Enigmatic and revered, owls have captivated human imagination for centuries, steeped in lore and wisdom. As formidable predators, they offer invaluable ecological services, particularly in organic tea farming. By controlling agricultural pests such as rodents, shrews, and insects, owls help maintain the delicate balance of our tea garden ecosystem.
Above left, the Mountain Wanderer or the Striking White-Capped Redstart hops along rocks and darts into the water to feed. Center, a pair of Red Vented Bulbuls spotted in Selimbong Tea garden. Right, these tiny winged wanderers, Taiga Flycatchers, embark on a transcontinental journey from northern Eurasia to the Himalayan region in the winters.
Ladybugs
Ladybugs’ multifunctional role as predators, pollinators, and pest controllers underscores the intricate interplay of organisms within our tea farm ecosystem. Despite their friendly appearance, these crimson beetles adorned with distinctive black polka dots are formidable predators, essential for maintaining ecosystem balance.
With voracious appetites for aphids, they devour up to 5,000 of these pestilent insects throughout their lifespan, which can span an impressive 2-3 years in the wild. These ladybugs are the first responders when it comes to biologically controlling the greatest pest for the tea industry, the infamous 'Tea Mosquito' or 'Helopeltis". They tirelessly hunt down a variety of these insects, making them invaluable allies in pest control and safeguarding our tea bushes.
The ladybug is TPI’s lucky mascot, as the presence of them indicate that our gardens are organic, healthy and thriving!
Ants & Spiders
Ants are the most advanced and sophisticated social insects and play a crucial role in agriculture, often serving as unsung heroes on tea farms. Ants contribute to soil health by aerating the soil as they tunnel underground. This improves soil structure, enhances water infiltration, and promotes root growth in tea bushes, especially beneficial during dry periods. Additionally, the fungus cultivated by ants serves as a natural fertiliser, enriching the soil with nutrients essential for tea plant growth and delevopment. As ants tend to their fungus gardens, they inadvertently distribute these nutrients throughout the soil, creating a nutrient-rich environment conducive to healthy tea growth. By nuturing a harmonious relationship with ants and recognising their vital role in the ecosystem, tea farmers can foster healthier, more resilient tea farms.
Within the serene environment of an organic tea farm, spiders emerge showcasing their adaptability and resilience, and playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and safeguarding crops from harmful pests. Their intricate and meticulously crafted webs serve as effective traps for insects and common tea pests such as aphids, caterpillars, and mites. The presence of spiders on a tea farm is indicative of a healthy ecosystem free from chemical pesticides.
Dragonflies, Butterflies & Bees
300 million years ago, the remarkable journey of dragonflies began, making them ancient inhabitants of our planet. Today, amidst the lush greenery of our organic tea farms, dragonflies serve as invaluable allies in maintaining a harmonious balance with nature. As the sweltering summer temperatures in Putharijhora and Assam lead to rising mosquito populations near our tea workers’ housing colonies, the need for natural pest control becomes paramount. Rather than resorting to harmful insecticides, we embrace the wisdom of nature, fostering habitats that encourage the breeding and flourising of dragonflies. By creating small water bodies amidst our tea gardens, we provide ideal breeding grounds for these remarkable insects, allowing their larvae to thrive underwater for up to two years before they emerge as the majestic dragonflies we admire in flight.
Butterflies are fluttering symbols of habitat quality, and grace our organic tea farms in large numbers. Their presence signifies a thriving ecosystem and pesticide-free practices, thus enhancing the biodiversity and pollination across our tea farms. Below, is a Blue Jay Butterfly flourising in our organic haven.
Bees play a multifaceted and indespensable role in organic tea farming. By foraging on a diverse array of flowering plants, their presence and activity serve as barometers of ecosystem vitality, reflecting the overall health and balance of the tea garden ecosystem. Conventional practices in tea farming, notably the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, have posed significant threats to bee populations as they disrupt the navigation, foraging, reproduction, and colony formation abilities of bees, even in sub-lethal doses. In all our organic tea gardens we have embarked on proactive agroforestry initiatives, strategically planting an array of bee-friendly flowers, native grasses, and fruit-bearing trees. We have also initiated social projects that promote bee keeping in our tea gardens. This concerted effort aims to transform our tea farms into sprawling nature reserves conducive to pollinator habitat and forage. As a result, we are witnessing a promising upturn in bee hive populations highlighting the importance of fostering a harmonious relationship between agricuture and nature in organic practices.
A bee spotted in Putharjhora Tea Garden, gently flitting from one flower to another, photographed from an apiary project started in Singell tea garden for retired tea workers. Individual members raise the bees and subsequently sell the honey in local markets for profit and sustenance.
“Our organic tea farms are vibrant with diverse life forms, providing us with resilience against environmental challenges, climate alterations, and disease epidemics—a benefit that significantly outperforms conventional farming methods.
Our steadfast commitment to preservation and sustainable farming techniques, such as fostering various tree species, reviving natural water sources, and restoring damaged ecosystems, has enabled us to foster a prosperous ecosystem within our tea farms. As this biodiversity thrives, it not only strengthens our ability for adaptation and survival but also enhances our bond with the broader network of life.”
