Fate of Papaya trees

There are seven papaya trees around my backyard - mostly at the river bank. It grows by its self probably propagated by birds.
Half of it already damaged. The culprits are the birds - Black-nape Orioles, Asian Glossy Starlings and Mynas.





The same tree (as above) healthy tree, before destruction.


Original Date/Time = 2007:10:27 13:55:39

more picture here.






The shoot is already dead, but the new one grow at the side of the tree. A few of them make a branch.
It generally branches only when injured.













This papaya tree branches into eight shoots, which are also damaged.












The new shoot branch out from the side of the tree, so this tree still survive.
















Original Date/Time = 2007:09:16 13:21:03

Photo taken in September 2007, shows most of the lower leaves are still intact.









This is how the birds unintentionally damage the papaya petioles (stalks).
The birds (Asian Glossy Starling) weight cause the stalk to break. This picture shows only one bird. Usually up to three birds perch at the same stalk, especially the stalk near the ripe fruits.


Original Date/Time = 2008:02:09 17:50:32




Black-nape Orioles is quite a big bird, about 27 cm in size, ? kg in weight.

New prominent leaf scars at upper stem.


Original Date/Time = 2008:02:14 18:11:17

Look, what happened to the leaves after five days (9th to 14th February)



They destroy the tree which they also help propagated it by the seeds.
All the lower leaves are gone.


Original Date/Time = 2008:02:14 18:18:20







This recent picture (24/3/08) show two petioles broken.
If you look closely, this are the last remaining leaves for that tree. (the background is a different tree)

Original Date/Time = 2008:03:24 07:30:27



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The new trees appear, to replace the aging and dying generation.





This is male species








Female flowers
(note the differences with the above flowers)

A male papaya is distinguished by the smaller flowers borne on long stalks (above). Female flowers of papaya (left) are pear shaped when unopened, and distinguished from bisexual flowers which are cylindrical.
(Ref: here)





New tree with ripe half eaten fruit.


















Young carica papaya.