Neotis denhami
Denham’s Bustard is a large bird inhabiting open high-rainfall grasslands and heathland where it feeds on plant material (fruit, grass, flowers, seeds, etc), invertebrates and small vertebrates (snakes, frogs, rodents, chicks of ground-nesting birds, etc). They’re attracted to recently burnt areas for the easy pickings available. Adult males weigh around 8kg, females approximately half that. Their wingspan may measure as much as 2m. They’re usually seen singly or in small groups but occasionally congregate in flocks numbering a few dozen.
The breeding season for Denham’s Bustards stretch through the months of spring and summer. Males breed with as many females as they can, and play no parental role. Females lay only 1 or 2 eggs which are incubated for almost 4 weeks. The eggs are laid on bare ground surrounded by concealing vegetation. Newly hatched chicks are precocial and, while initially fed by their mother will soon start pecking up their own food. The chicks can fly when they’re about 2 months old, but remain with their mother for an extended period of time.
Numbers of Denham’s Bustard are declining throughout its range and it is considered to be near-threatened, despite its wide distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. This is mostly due to hunting and loss of habitat, and collisions with vehicles, power lines and fences also take a toll locally. In South Africa, where the subspecies known as Stanley’s Bustard (N. d. stanleyi) is endemic, the biggest populations are to be found in the Eastern and Western Cape, though they’re also found in lower numbers in Kwazulu-Natal, extreme eastern Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, with a total population size for our country probably lower than 5,000 mature individuals.
DeWetsWild 
I enjoyed your photos of a species I have seen only a very few times. Very sad that the numbers are in such decline.
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It really is sad, Carol, and given that their preferred habitat is sparsely protected their future seems to be in the hands of the landowners of the farms they inhabit more than the state.
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Good looking big bird, too bad they are too close to human’s infrastructures. Thanks, D. 🙂
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Sadly the blame for that lies at our feet, H.J. We’re pushing them out of their home.
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It’s always sad to read about a species on the decline, especially due to human encroachment. You always have beautiful photos to illustrate your stories of wildlife. Thanks again for sharing.
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You’re as kind as always, thanks John. And I agree that it is very sad that our “progress” comes at such an immeasurably costly expense so often.
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Dis jammer dat daar so min van hulle oor is!
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Ek stem heeltemal met jou saam, Aletta. Die prys van vooruitgang is dikwels onbekostigbaar duur.
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Dis vreeslik as mens daaraan dink
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Ek is nie goed met voëlname nie. Tog lyk daardie een vir my bekend. 🙈
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I always feel a thrill when I see these birds.
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Do you see them often around Grahamstown, Anne?
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Mostly in Addo and occasionally on farmland in the area.
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Some long legs and lovely coloring. Hopefully they can make a comeback.
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I hope so too, Janet.
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Ai dis hartseer elke keer as diere só min raak dat uitsterf die voorland is.
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Julle sien hulle seker redelik gereeld daar op jul plaas en in die omgewing, Toortsie? Ons was baie gelukkig om hulle dikwels te sien in Bontebok Nasionale Park, en ook terwyl ons gery het tussen Bredasdorp en Swellendam en Struisbaai.
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Ek moet nou skaam vir jou vra wat die Afrikaans is?
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In Afrikaans is sy naam “Veldpou” – naby familie van die Gompou wat mens in die Kalahari en Kruger sien.
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Ek sal bietjie vir my man vra.
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Laat weet ons asseblief wat hy se?
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Ek sal so maak. Hy ken die voëls baie beter as ek. 😁
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Manlief sê dis ‘n dikkop?
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Anders gompou
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Baie naby familie van die gompou. Dankie Toortsie!
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Excellent photos of this handsome bird. I hope something can be done to stop the decline in its numbers.
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Thank you, Hien. Sadly this is one of those animals that will continue to decline as long as humans keep “developing”…
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Collisions with vehicles…..the drivers that don’t stop or slow down for these birds? Such a shame.
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I don’t think the drivers are mostly to blame – these poor birds fly low and relatively slow and if they’re intent on crossing a road in their flight path tragedy often strikes…
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