UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Trapped! Weaver nests as death traps
Get PDFNests of weaver birds are enclosed structures, potentially allowing birds to be trapped inside. Oschadleus (1996) reviewed several examples of this from the literature. This paper describes several new incidents. Dates and localities are provided in the text: coordinates and additional photos and details of the weaver colonies may be viewed in PHOWN (Photos of Weaver Nests) with web provided in the Appendix
Unusual foraging behaviour of Amur Falcons
Get PDFAmur Falcons Falco amurensis are non-breeding Palaearctic migrants (Nov-May) to the eastern parts of Southern Africa. This species forage mainly by perch-hunting as well as hover-hunting over open grass- and croplands. On non-breeding grounds, it consumes almost exclusively arthropods (locusts and grasshoppers, termite alates, beetles, bees); they may occasionally capture birds
Caught in the act: Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota bradfieldi drinking water
Get PDFMost lark species are able to survive without drinking water. They do this by obtaining sufficient moisture through metabolic oxidation of their food, from moisture in their food, and/or by collecting dew on vegetation
Snake in the grass… birds mob Puff Adder
No full textMixed flocks of birds mobbing snakes is a phenomenon that is often talked about but not frequently observed, and even more rarely photographed. These paragraphs and photographs document an incident which took place at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in the Northern Cape at 10:40 on 26 May 2012
Birds of the Ozabeni section of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park
Get PDFA study of the birds of Ozabeni, a section of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, was made during the period 1985-95. No previous ornithological study had been made of this section of the Park, which is situated in the northern coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ozabeni contains thirteen distinct habitat types ranging from coastal dune forest in the east to floodplain pans and swamps in the west and includes the finest remaining example of coastal grassland in South Africa. The ornithological importance of Ozabeni is reflected in the large number of bird species recorded, some 366 excluding 15 pelagic birds, and including nearly half the number of species listed as rare or endangered in the South African Red Data Book - Birds (1984). The status and habitat preferences are given for all species recorded and several aspects of ornithological significance are discussed. Recommendations are made regarding issues needing further study, the utilisation of resources within the area and development affecting the reserve. This study was originally presented to the Natal Parks Board now Ezemvelo Wildlife under the title "The birds of the Ozabeni Section of the Greater St Lucia Wetland park"
Are traditional healers contributing to the decline of Blue Cranes in Namibia?
Get PDFMuch has been published about the plight and decline of Blue Cranes Anthropoides paradiseus from Namibia over the last few years (Brown 1992, Simmons et al. 1996, Kolberg et al. 2006, Simmons et al. 2006, Scott et al. 2009, Scott et al. 2011). Blue Cranes are considered to be one of the world's most range-restricted crane species; endemic to southern Africa as well as Critically Endangered and seemingly declining in Namibia (Simmons and Brown, in press) and Globally Threatened (BirdLife International 2012)
Never give up - Common Fiscal and chameleon encounter
Get PDFOn 23 July 2012 at about 18:15, whilst walking in the wetlands area at the eastern edge of Tokai Forest, Cape Town, I heard a rustling in the tall reeds. On closer inspection I found a Common Fiscal Lanius collaris (Dean 2005) hanging from a tall reed about 1.5 m from the ground. Its bill appeared to be entangled in the reed. The bird did not move ? it was just hanging by its bill. I approached it and took hold of it to release it. I was certain I was going to get a nasty bite once I had freed it, as these birds can be very aggressive. However I found that it was not entangled but had grabbed a Dwarf Chameleon Bradypodion pumilum by the head Burger 2007). The Fiscal was trying to use its weight to tire chameleon out in order to pull it off the reed. The bird did not release the chameleon even when I was holding it firmly in my hand
Scrubbing my back - Double-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles bicinctus dust-bathing
No full textBirds "bath" in the dust to help them clean their feathers and remove ectoparasites and feather lice (Maclean 1990; Clayton et al 2010). According to Maclean it is especially observed in ground living birds. Normally the birds are in an upright position shaking their plumage and wings vigorously to let in the dust between the feathers. They may also turn on their sides to get the plumage dusted properly
Somerset West - SABAP1 and SABAP2 compared
Get PDFA discussion of a comparison of the results of SABAP1 and SABAP2 in a Quarter Degree Grid Cell in the south western Cape - Somerset West
First observation: Pied Avocet at Robben Island
Get PDFThe Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta is a common breeding resident in southern Africa, typically found at coastal saltworks, sewage pans and coastal lagoons (Tree 1997). In South Africa, one of the critical sites for the species in the Western Cape is the Rietvlei Wetland Reserve (33?50'S, 18?29'E) on the mainland adjacent and about 10 km from Robben Island