The plague of the grain fields

[Mwalimu-G]

quelea
bird species, Quelea quelea


Alternate titles: Quelea quelea, black-faced dioch, dioch, quelea finch, red-billed quelea, red-billed weaver
By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica • Edit History

quelea, (Quelea quelea), also called red-billed quelea, or dioch, small brownish bird of Africa, belonging to the songbird family Ploceidae (order Passeriformes). It occurs in such enormous numbers that it often destroys grain crops and, by roosting, breaks branches. Efforts to control quelea populations with poisons, napalm, pathogens, and electronic devices have had poor success; but dynamiting the dense colonies, which may contain more than two million pairs in less than 50 hectares (125 acres), has achieved local control.

red-billed quelea
Male (right) and female red-billed queleas (Quelea quelea).
© Johan Swanepoel/Shutterstock.com

red-billed quelea
A flock of red-billed queleas (Quelea quelea).
© 169169/Fotolia

View a flock of red-billed queleas at the Etosha National Park
A flock of red-billed queleas (Quelea quelea), Etosha National Park, Namibia.
© EcoView/FotoliaSee all videos for this article

Queleas breed in thorn-scrub country: every bush and tree for miles around may contain hundreds of their globular nests, which are built by the males (black-faced, with pinkish foreparts at that season). Each pair has two or three young, which within the year may wander hundreds of miles and breed in their turn. The “locust bird” plague has been the indirect and complicated result of human exploitation of marginal land for stock raising and of the large-scale cultivation of grains. Queleas are thought to be among the most populous bird species in the world.

Why they are significant

They can be devastating to rice and wheat fields forcing farmers to hire bird-scarers, substantially increasing the cost of production.


The average quelea bird eats around 10 grams of grain per day - roughly half its body weight - so a flock of two million can devour as much as 20 tons of grain in a single day.

Quelea - Africa's most hated bird

For thousands of years

www.thenewhumanitarian.org

.

 

[Doc oga]

These little maafakas don't mind consuming mung beans in ukambani areas before migrating to mwea.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

These little maafakas don't mind consuming mung beans in ukambani areas before migrating to mwea.

Ala, kumbe ndengu ni beans? I always thought they were grams!
After this article I am even more confused...

• NUTRITION

What’s the Difference Between a Legume, Bean, and Pulse?

MAY 31, 2022

You’ve probably heard about legumes, pulses, and beans before, but what’s the difference? Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all.
Here’s what you need to know about these fiber-filled treasures, and how you can easily incorporate them into your diet. Legumes, pulses, and beans are words that are often used interchangeably, but there are small differences. Here are some additional insights to clear any confusion.

Difference Between Legumes and Pulses
First and foremost, think of legumes, pulses, and beans in a hierarchy: legumes are the umbrella term, with pulses directly underneath. Beans fall under both of these – beans are legumes and pulses.

What are Legumes?
Legumes include all types and forms of beans and peas that come from the Fabaceae (or Leguminosae) botanical family. In other words, legumes are the umbrella family that all beans, peas, and pulses fall under, and include thousands of varieties grown around the world. The main types of legumes include:

• dry and fresh beans, and soybeans
• dry and fresh peas
• lentils
• chickpeas
• peanuts

All forms of legumes are naturally low in fat and cholesterol, as well as high in fiber and protein. Legumes are also a good source of iron, magnesium, and folate — essential vitamins and minerals needed for a number of bodily functions, including cell growth and formation, bone formation, and immunity.

Up the legume intake for the entire family with these 40 Bean-Based, Family-Friendly Recipes!

What are Pulses?
What’s the difference between pulses and legumes? Pulses are the dried seeds of the legume plants. Not all legumes are pulses. The different types of pulses include:

• dry beans
• chickpeas
• lentils
• dry peas

Hundreds of different varieties of pulses are grown around the globe. The word stems from the latin word puls, meaning seeds that can be made into a thick soup.

Pulses are an affordable source of plant-based protein, with about 2-3 times as much protein per serving as cereal grains such as rice, oats, barley, and wheat. A one-cup serving also has almost half your daily needs of fiber, including both soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as resistant starches. These types of fiber can aid in digestion and help improve gut health and motility. For reference, it is recommended that women aim for 25 grams of fiber per day, and men should aim for 38 grams.

Add a serving of pulses to your morning meal with this Ginger-Tahini Yogurt Bowl with Zucchini and Chickpeas.

What are Beans?
As mentioned before, beans and legumes are often used interchangeably. However, even though beans are legumes, there are other legumes that can not be classified as beans. Beans are also a type of pulse. Some of the most common types of beans include:

• pinto beans
• kidney beans
• great northern beans
• fava beans
• lima beans
• mung beans
• black eyed peas
• cannellini beans
• black beans
• adzuki beans

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends adults consume 3 cups of beans per week, which is equivalent to about a ½ cup serving per day. Research shows that including beans as part of a healthy diet may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers, lower blood pressure, support weight control, and help manage diabetes.

Enjoy beans in a whole new way with this Creamy Chocolate, Cannellini Bean, and Cinnamon Smoothie.

The difference between pulses and legumes, and how beans fit into the mix, is actually quite simple when you look at the big picture. Remember, legumes are at the top of the chain, with pulses as a category of legumes. Beans then fall into both categories of pulses and legumes.

 

[Doc oga]

Ala, kumbe ndengu ni beans? I always thought they were grams!
After this article I am even more confused...

• NUTRITION

What’s the Difference Between a Legume, Bean, and Pulse?

MAY 31, 2022

You’ve probably heard about legumes, pulses, and beans before, but what’s the difference? Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all.
Here’s what you need to know about these fiber-filled treasures, and how you can easily incorporate them into your diet. Legumes, pulses, and beans are words that are often used interchangeably, but there are small differences. Here are some additional insights to clear any confusion.

Difference Between Legumes and Pulses
First and foremost, think of legumes, pulses, and beans in a hierarchy: legumes are the umbrella term, with pulses directly underneath. Beans fall under both of these – beans are legumes and pulses.

What are Legumes?
Legumes include all types and forms of beans and peas that come from the Fabaceae (or Leguminosae) botanical family. In other words, legumes are the umbrella family that all beans, peas, and pulses fall under, and include thousands of varieties grown around the world. The main types of legumes include:

• dry and fresh beans, and soybeans
• dry and fresh peas
• lentils
• chickpeas
• peanuts

All forms of legumes are naturally low in fat and cholesterol, as well as high in fiber and protein. Legumes are also a good source of iron, magnesium, and folate — essential vitamins and minerals needed for a number of bodily functions, including cell growth and formation, bone formation, and immunity.

Up the legume intake for the entire family with these 40 Bean-Based, Family-Friendly Recipes!

What are Pulses?
What’s the difference between pulses and legumes? Pulses are the dried seeds of the legume plants. Not all legumes are pulses. The different types of pulses include:

• dry beans
• chickpeas
• lentils
• dry peas

Hundreds of different varieties of pulses are grown around the globe. The word stems from the latin word puls, meaning seeds that can be made into a thick soup.

Pulses are an affordable source of plant-based protein, with about 2-3 times as much protein per serving as cereal grains such as rice, oats, barley, and wheat. A one-cup serving also has almost half your daily needs of fiber, including both soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as resistant starches. These types of fiber can aid in digestion and help improve gut health and motility. For reference, it is recommended that women aim for 25 grams of fiber per day, and men should aim for 38 grams.

Add a serving of pulses to your morning meal with this Ginger-Tahini Yogurt Bowl with Zucchini and Chickpeas.

What are Beans?
As mentioned before, beans and legumes are often used interchangeably. However, even though beans are legumes, there are other legumes that can not be classified as beans. Beans are also a type of pulse. Some of the most common types of beans include:

• pinto beans
• kidney beans
• great northern beans
• fava beans
• lima beans
• mung beans
• black eyed peas
• cannellini beans
• black beans
• adzuki beans

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends adults consume 3 cups of beans per week, which is equivalent to about a ½ cup serving per day. Research shows that including beans as part of a healthy diet may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers, lower blood pressure, support weight control, and help manage diabetes.

Enjoy beans in a whole new way with this Creamy Chocolate, Cannellini Bean, and Cinnamon Smoothie.

The difference between pulses and legumes, and how beans fit into the mix, is actually quite simple when you look at the big picture. Remember, legumes are at the top of the chain, with pulses as a category of legumes. Beans then fall into both categories of pulses and legumes.

I also thought lentils were Ndengu

 

[Doc oga]

Itabidi niingie google juu naona choroko ndio mung beans but choroko sounds thoroko

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Itabidi niingie google juu naona choroko ndio mung beans but choroko sounds thoroko

But ngungu gave me an image of ngina.

Edit: The mung bean, alternatively known as the green gram, maash, moong, monggo, or munggo, is a plant species in the legume family. The mung bean is mainly cultivated in East, Southeast and South Asia. It is used as an ingredient in both savoury and sweet dishes. Wi

 

[Doc oga]

Hii ndio mung bean natengenezea my wild birds