131
BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT (01.09.’13 – 19.09.’13)
Text from Stefan Rust
2013
(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these
texts belong to Stefan Rust)
Dear birding friends,
as birdwatching is a relatively new and one of the fastest
growing and a most popular pursuit, it attracts people of all ages around the
world. There can hardly be a better place than southern Africa (Namibia,
Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa) to nurture an
interest in birds as it supports almost 1000 bird species, which is about 10
per cent of the world's entire bird. Taking birding to new heights,
Hobby-Ornithologist Stefan Rust together with BirdsConTour represents some of
the ontour bird sightings and several other interesting birding aspects to
showcase the fun of birding, promote citizen science, highlight conservation,
indicate where to view what birds and raise awareness of southern Africa's
(sometimes international) birds and their habitats.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORK GETS DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY
Have a quick look if you, your site or neighborhood is
included in this scientific informational work (alphabetically arranged):
Blyde River Canyon (South Africa)
Chamäleon Reisen
Chobe NP. (Botswana)
Chobe Safari Lodge (Botswana)
Dumela Lodge (Botswana)
Etosha Safari Camp (Gondwana Collection) (Namibia)
Etosha NP. (Gemsbokvlakte and Okondeka Waterhole)
(Namibia)
Gallmeister Petra & Volkmar
Gemsbokvlakte Waterhole (Etosha NP) (Namibia)
Gondwana Collection (Etosha Safari Camp) (Namibia)
Gross Günter
Hannah Lodge (South Africa)
Jwaneng (Botswana)
Johannesburg (South Africa)
Kazungula (Botswana)
Krüger NP. (South Africa)
Lianshulu Lodge (Mudumu NP.) (Namibia)
Lobatse (Botswana)
Maope (Botswana)
Mapungubwe NP. (South Africa)
Mopane Bush Lodge (South Africa)
Mudumu NP. (Lianshulu Lodge) (Namibia)
Nunda River Lodge (Namibia)
Ohange Game Lodge (Namibia)
Okondeka Waterhole (Etosha NP.) (Namibia)
Olifants Camp, Krüger NP. (South Africa)
Onjala Lodge (Namibia)
Pack Safari (Namibia)
Rudnick Erika & Jürgen
Schaumann Uwe
Shingwedzi Camp, Krüger NP. (South Africa)
Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (Zimbabwe)
Windhoek (Namibia)
BirdsConTour Report (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South
Africa) Personal Highlights:
BAR-THROATED APALIS
DUMELA LODGE – BIRD & BIRDER FRIENDLY AWARD
HANNAH LODGE – BIRD & BIRDER FRIENDLY AWARD
LIANSHULU LODGE – BIRD & BIRDER FRIENDLY AWARD
WHITE-HEADED VULTURE
Distance traveled: 6 070 km
01.09.'13 Windhoek, Namibia Tawny
Eagle (1) Because of trapping and poisoning
in Namibia, numbers decreased and this species provisionally got classified as
endangered in this country. Thus it is good news to have found one bird nesting
in a nest on top of a tree about 10 km east out of Windhoek, ± 200 m north of
the B6.
01.09.'13 Onjala Lodge, Namibia Scaly-feathered
Finch (100’s) Clearly they find
appropriate seeds as a food source on the property of the Onjala Private Game
Reserve because there are quite a few swarms feeding at seed on the ground.
Altogether they must be in their hundreds with a few individual Violet-eared
Waxbills associating with the big swarms of Scaly-feathered Finches (not
mentioned in the Roberts bird book).
02.09.'13 Onjala Lodge, Namibia Freckled
Nightjar (2) One bird, supposing the male,
gave a sound that is different to the usual all year-round sound (pow-wow).
This call is a for a long time continuous blub, blub, blub, blub, blub,
blub, … repeated sound. It is possible that
this is the mating call of the male.
02.09.'13 Turnoff to Mount Etjo BirdsConTour
for a cleaner Bird Habitat Another
BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat cleaning sessions were held while being
on a Limpopo tour with a six German guest group. Not only can the rubbish lying
around, including glass bottles, cause a bush fire and threaten bird- and
wildlife in general, but it is no good impression for guests. Areas that have
been cleaned are the turnoff to Mount Etjo, Namibia, and the parking area at
the Mapungubwe NP museum in South Africa. These places were in dire need of
attention.
02.09.'13 Etosha Safari Camp, Namibia Pearl-spotted
Owlet (1) Probably the hunger drives these
birds to become active by day. Although it is reported that they are often
active by day, they are clearly more active now than with previous observations.
Another reason might be or even additional, that it is now their peak-breeding
season.
03.09.'13 Okaukuejo Waterhole, Etosha NP.,
Namibia Tawny Eagle (2)
Because of trapping and poisoning in Namibia, numbers decreased and this
species provisionally got classified as endangered in this country. Thus it is
good news to have found one pair nesting in an old vulture nest west of the
Okaukuejo Waterhole.
03.09.'13 Etosha Safari Camp, Namibia Southern
Masked-Weaver (100’s) Here 100’s of birds
roost communally in the alien trees of the garden. Singing and chattering, they
fly in, in small groups, from up to 45 minutes before sunset.
04.09.'13 Klein Namutoni Waterhole, Etosha NP.,
Namibia Marsh Sandpiper (1)
This juvenile bird arrived quite early, for these fairly common
Palearctic-breeding migrants, in our region, but it is not uncommon for
juveniles to arrive at this time. It is observed that foraging birds sometimes
leave the water to defecate, probably to reduce parasite infection. Storks also
have this habit.
04.09.'13 Ohange Namibia Lodge, Namibia
Red-billed Hornbill (2) This is
the most habitat restricted one of all small hornbills. It favors open, wooded
savanna with sparse ground cover, such as areas that are heavily trampled by
game or livestock. Therefore drought years are in their favor and often drive
them into areas outside their normal range.
05.09.'13 Nunda River Lodge, Namibia Violet-backed
Starling (1) This individual male seen can
either be a member of the small number that is present year-round or he is a
breeding intra-African migrant from tropical Africa having arrived early.
05.09.'13 Nunda River Lodge, Namibia Meves’s
Starling (1) Officially this species is
not threatened, but potentially it is threatened by the destruction of trees
(potential nest sites) by the African Elephants, especially in areas where the
population size of these big mammals is unnaturally high (see Chobe NP.), and
by uncontrolled firewood collection.
06.09.'13 Lianshulu Lodge, Mudumu NP., Namibia
White-browed Robin Robin-Chat (2)
Especially during their breeding season, these birds are ideal guards in the
gardens, they even scold and attack large snakes such as Boomslangs Dispholidus
typus.
07.09.'13 Lianshulu Lodge, Mudumu NP., Namibia
Bird & Birder Friendly Award BirdsConTour
traveled to Caprivi in Namibia to reward the Lianshulu Lodge. This
establishment is putting in effort to conserve the wild birds not only on the
lodge property but also in the protected park area surrounding the lodge.
08.09.'13 Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana Southern
Brown-throated Weaver (10) This uncommon
species is easily overlooked in winter, non-breeding season. The garden of the
Chobe safari Lodge is a fine place to spot the subspecies Ploceus
xanthopterus castaneigula. Northern Botswana and northeastern
Namibia are the only areas to see this subspecies in southern Africa.
09.09.'13 Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana Bar-throated
Apalis (1) A definite identification is
the white eyes. This is not their registered distribution area! According to
identification, this individual is the Apalis thoracica flaviventris,
with a rather indistinctive breast band, an identification aid that separates
this subspecies from the 12 other subspecies occurring in southern Africa.
10.09.'13 Kazungula, Botswana, to Victoria Falls,
Zimbabwe Southern Ground-Hornbill (15) An astonishingly high number of these birds were seen alongside a
50 km stretch of road in between Kazungula, Botswana, and Victoria Falls,
Zimbabwe, – 15 birds. The grouping was 4, 4, 3, 2 and 2. This results in an
estimated density of circa one group per 10 km. The highest recorded density
for southern Africa was one group per 20 km at Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. Laying
dates are from August till January. A dominant breeding pair can be together
with 0 till 9 helpers, mainly being males and juveniles from previous broods.
10.09.'13 Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe
Marabou Stork (16) Primarily a
scavenger, the Marabou Storks feed at this Vulture Restaurant, initiated and
managed by the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, in association with Hooded,
White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures. Being subordinate to these Vultures,
they wait at the side of the feeding frenzy and at a sudden run in to grab
scraps. Daily at one o’clock vulture feeding takes place and for the effort in
vulture conservation, this lodge received a Bird & Birder Friendly Award
from BirdsConTour some time ago.
BirdsConTour urges the staff and visitors of the Victoria
Falls Safari Lodge to be on the look out for Marabou Storks that are tagged
with a yellow plate provided with a black writing on and to report such
sightings. The aim of these marked Storks is to observe the movement of these
birds. Better knowledge of their movements is important for better conservation.
10.09.'13 Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana Red-faced
Cisticola (1) It is clearly
distinguishable from the Singing Cisticola by its “tsk-tsk-tsk,
up-up-up-DOWN-DOWN-down-doown-dooown” voice phrase. (Chamberlain’s
LBJs)
10.09.'13 Chobe Safari Lodge, Botswana African
Marsh-Harrier (1) In the morning at 6:30
one adult bird flew and collected reed stems as nest material. Males can be
observed adding grass or stems to the nest when they guard the eggs or chicks
while the female is away feeding. Peak laying dates are September, December and
January till June. It is sad to know that the African Marsh-Harrier is,
although globally not threatened, classified as vulnerable in South Africa and
even as endangered in Namibia. The fires during the species’ breeding season in
the Caprivi Strip have a major impact on their population. In regard of animal
conservation, these regular fires are a big concern and more attention should
be put on finding ways to reduce these Caprivi fires!
11.09.'13 Dumela Lodge, Botswana Bird
& Birder Friendly Award BirdsConTour honoured the second lodge
in Botswana with a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award. Find out
more under the www.birdscontour.blogspot.com.
11.09.'13 Maope, Botswana Common
Myna (3) Being native to India, they have
been introduced to southern Africa at Durban about 1900 to control insects and
have spread over southern Africa since then. They prefer urban areas and are
often unconcerned of proximity of people or traffic.
12.09.'13 Mopane Bush Lodge, South Africa
Laughing Dove (1) A Laughing Dove
at the water pond in the garden of the Mopane Bush Lodge delivered a good
example of leucism in birds, in which portions or sometimes all of the plumage
lacks pigment but the bare parts are normally colored. The chin and throat
feathers of this bird were white in color. Natural selection ensures that
abnormalities like this or even albinistic birds are rare and mostly
short-lived because the white color makes the animal conspicuous to predators.
Even evidence exists that their parents when young may discriminate against
birds with color abnormalities and such birds have problems to attract a
partner.
12.09.'13 Museum parking area, Mapungubwe NP,
South Africa BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat Another BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat
cleaning sessions were held while being on a Limpopo tour with a six German
guest group. Not only can the rubbish lying around, including glass bottles,
cause a bush fire and threaten bird- and wildlife in general, but it is no good
impression for guests. Areas that have been cleaned are the turnoff to Mount
Etjo, Namibia, and the parking area at the Mapungubwe NP museum in South
Africa. These places were in dire need of attention.
13.09.'13 Mopane Bush Lodge, Mapungubwe NP.,
South Africa Double-banded Sandgrouse (2) Being a ground breeder, the soil would be too hot to breed during
summer. That is why they breed during winter, April to October. Also its food,
mostly seeds of legumes, is ripe in winter. One freshly killed half-grown chick
was found near the Bushmen paintings on the western border of the Mapungubwe
NP.
14.09.'13 Krüger NP, South Africa Woolly-necked
Stork (2) Classified as near-threatened in
South Africa because of threats to breeding habitat, it is a delight to find
these birds in this country where the population is estimated at less than 100.
Here in the Krüger NP are about eight breeding pairs.
14.09.'13 Shingwedzi Camp Krüger NP, South Africa
Grey-headed Bush-Shrike (1) Often
heard but difficult to see, these birds are in their breeding season. Their
reproductive rate lies at 0.8 fledglings per pair per year.
15.09.'13 Krüger NP, Pafuri, South Africa
Saddle-billed Stork (1) In Krüger
NP. live about 300-400 of them. Although they are not threatened globally, they
are endangered in South Africa.
15.09.'13 Olifants Camp Krüger NP, South Africa
African Grey Hornbill (5) In this
region, their peak breeding time is October and November. During this time the
female moults her flight and tail feathers, while she is “trapped” in the nest.
During this season the male provides the female and then the chicks with food,
he therefore moults later, mostly November till May.
16.09.'13 Krüger NP, Phalaborwa, South Africa
White-headed Vulture (1) With
African population numbers of estimated 7 000-12 500 birds, in southern Africa
about 500 pairs and in South Africa together with Swaziland ± 80-120 pairs, one
gets a thrill seeing one of theses uncommon White-headed Vultures. The increase
of game-farming may have an influence of the increase of range.
16.09.'13 Hannah Lodge, South Africa Bird
& Birder Friendly Award With a two penguin-rated Bird &
Birder Friendly Award in their possession, handed over by Stefan Rust from
BirdsConTour, Hannah Lodge and its team, can now proudly market themselves as a
bird and birder friendly establishment. More information under
www.birdscontour.blogspot.com.
17.09.'13 Panorama Route, Ohrigstad, South Africa
Red-backed Mannikin (1) These
small birds fall prey to the Fork-tailed Drongo and even praying mantis.
17.09.'13 Hannah Lodge, South Africa Bird
& Birder Friendly Award By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making
use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support bird conservation and create an
economic platform for local livelihoods. Sometimes travelers also participate
in other BirdsConTour projects. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant
receives a Bird & Birder Friendly Award at the end of the tour.
Seven German-speaking guests were rewarded with one penguin-rated
Bird & Birder Friendly Awards:
Petra & Volkmar Gallmeister
Günter Gross
Erika & Jürgen Rudnick
Uwe Schaumann
This Limpopo Tour, organized by Pack Safari and Chamäleon
Reisen, took place from the 1st of September until the 20th
of September 2013.
18.09.'13 Johannesburg, South Africa Long-tailed
Widowbird (1) Isolated populations are
widespread, mostly on private land. Here they are vulnerable to land-use
changes such as overgrazing, regular and too frequent fires, commercial
afforestation and human establishments.
19.09.'13 Lobatse and Jwaneng, Botswana
Common Myna (6) Almost 70 years
after their introduction to Johannesburg in about 1938, the Common Myna
population seems to explode. Previously BirdsConTour recorded this species in
Nata and Kang, Botswana, and today in Lobatse and Jwaneng, Botswana. Clearly
visible a rapid northwards expansion takes place.
19.09.'13 Namibia Black-shouldered
Kite (3) With a thought southern Africa
population of up to 100 000 they are not threatened. It seems they are benefiting
from bush clearance in agriculture and from alien trees for nesting.
Enjoy Birding,
Stefan Rust
Please note: Most scientific information has been taken
from Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, V11th edition!
(For more information contact Stefan Rust on +264
(0)81 129 8415 or birdscontour@iway.na)
