Category Archives: South African Wildlife

The inhabitants of South Africa’s wild places

Rufous-naped Lark

Mirafra africana

The Rufous-naped Lark is a common and conspicuous inhabitant of agricultural fields, open grasslands and savannas, where males display prominently atop perches like tree stumps, fence-posts and termite mounds. They follow a mixed diet of insects and seeds. Adult Rufous-naped Larks measure around 17cm in length and weigh about 44g.

Rufous-naped Larks are usually found singly or in pairs, being territorial and monogamous. Their nests are domed structures built of dry grass at the base of a bush or tuft of grass. They breed almost throughout the year, though there’s a distinct peak in the summer months. Clutches of 2-4 eggs are incubated for 2 weeks, with the female taking most of the parental responsibility after the eggs have hatched. The chicks leave the nest before they’re 2 weeks old and before they can fly.

The IUCN lists the Rufous-naped Lark as being of least concern, though it does mention a probably declining and fragmenting population in the north of the species’ range. In South Africa they occur in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northwest, Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and north of our borders they’re distributed patchily over much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Rufous-naped Lark

Rufous-naped Lark in full song

Rufous-naped Lark

Rufous-naped Lark on a prominent perch

Rufous-naped Lark

Rufous-naped Lark and Black-collared Barbet

Rufous-naped Lark

Magpie Shrike

29 Replies

Urolestes melanoleucus

The unmistakable Magpie, or Long-tailed, Shrike inhabits open savanna habitats, typically where thorn trees dominate, and feed on invertebrates, lizards, small mammals, carrion and occasionally fruit. They generally avoid man-altered habitats and human habitation.

Adult Magpie Shrikes measure up to 50cm long and weigh around 85g.

Magpie Shrikes are gregarious and territorial, with groups numbering 3-12 occupying home ranges of up to 70 hectares in size (though much smaller while nesting). Their nesting season spans spring and summer. The dominant pair is monogamous and usually assisted by other group members in raising the chicks.

In South Africa, Magpie Shrikes are found mainly in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, extending marginally into Gauteng, Free State, Northwest, Northern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal. They also occur patchily through the rest of southern and eastern Africa. The IUCN indicates that the overall population of the Magpie Shrike is decreasing, possibly due to habitat loss, but still lists it as being of least concern at the moment.

Magpie Shrike

Magpie shrike south of Skukuza

Magpie Shrike

Magpie Shrikes

Magpie Shrike

White-crested Helmetshrike

35 Replies

Prionops plumatus

The very active and gregarious White-crested Helmetshrike occurs commonly in savanna and woodland habitats from northern Kwazulu-Natal through Mpumalanga and Limpopo to Gauteng and North West, and north of our borders can be found throughout central, east and west Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN.

White-crested Helmetshrikes breed in territorial groups numbering 3-10 individuals, their peak egg-laying season being spring and early summer. There is a strict hierarchy within the group, and all members assist in the rearing of the 2-5 chicks, though the dominant pair takes care of the construction of the nest, which is a compact cup made of plant material and spider web. The eggs are incubated for 3 weeks and the chicks leave the nest about the same period of time after hatching, though group members will keep feeding them until they’re over two months old. Outside the breeding season groups often join up to form larger flocks of 20 or more, and often join mixed bird parties as they move quickly from tree to tree.

Adult White-crested Helmetshrikes grow to about 18cm in length and weigh around 34g. They feed primariliy on insects, other invertebrates and small reptiles, but will also consume fruits in season.

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmet-Shrike

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmetshrikes

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmetshrikes

White-crested Helmetshrike

White-crested Helmetshrike (photo by Joubert)

White-crested Helmetshrike (Photo by Joubert)

Green Milkweed Locust

48 Replies

Phymateus viridipes

The Green Milkweed Locust, or African Bush Grasshopper, is a large – up to 9cm long – poisonous locust that can congregate in enormous numbers (as we experienced on Sunday at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, apparently an annual occurrence there in September and October), and may migrate over great distances, flying strong and high. They feed on toxic plants and are rather sluggish on the ground, preferring to stay in trees and bushes and flying between them. When feeling threatened they will raise and rustle their wings and exude a noxious foam (poisonous if ingested) from their bodies as defense. Eggs are laid in the ground and the nymphs (also called “hoppers”) are highly gregarious, moving around in tight clusters until they are almost fully grown.

And yes, they scare me. Terribly.

Green Milkweed Locusts

Green Milkweed Locust

Green Milkweed Locusts

Green Milkweed Locust

Green Milkweed Locust in flight

Green Milkweed Locust

Green Milkweed Locust nymphs

Green Milkweed Locust (nymphs)

Green Milkweed Locust

Green Milkweed Locust nymphs

Green Milkweed Locust

Collared Sunbird

46 Replies

Hedydipna collaris

Primarily a bird of forest and riparian habitats where it feeds on nectar, fruit and insects, the tiny (8g, 10cm) Collared Sunbird has exquisite, iridescent plumage, especially in the male of the species.

Collared Sunbirds breed mainly during spring and summer, when the female uses dry grass and other fine plant material to position an untidy oval nest with a side entrance in the outer branches of a tree or shrub, often near the hives of bees or wasps. The female is also solely responsible for the incubation of the clutch of 1-4 eggs over a two week period. The male doesn’t take an active role in the feeding of the chicks, which become independent at around 4 weeks old, either.

The Collared Sunbird is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN, although the loss of coastal forest habitats to development is cause for concern. It occurs widely over the more densely vegetated areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and in South Africa occurs along the coast and adjacent interior of the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal through to the Lowveld and Escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Male collared sunbird

Collared Sunbird (male)

Collared Sunbird (female)

Collared Sunbird (male)

Collared Sunbird (female)

Collared Sunbird (immature male)

Collared Sunbird

Laughing Dove family tragedies…

25 Replies

During September (2018) we had the opportunity to watch a pair of Laughing Doves incubate a clutch of two eggs and raise their squabs in our backyard.

They started incubating the eggs on the 8th of September, and 12 days later the hatchlings emerged. Sadly one of the chicks only lived for six days, the reason for its demise being unclear, and Marilize had to watch as its mother unceremoniously pushed its body out of the nest.

Five days later even more tragedy struck as both parents abandoned the remaining chick when it was only eleven days old and still incapable of fending for itself. We had no idea what happened to the parents, who up to that point seemed very devoted, and therefore we first opted not to interfere at the nest in the hope that they’d return soon enough to resume caring for their youngster before it got too weak.

Yesterday, with more than 24 hours elapsed since the last time the adults visited the nest and still no sign of them, Marilize and Joubert took the little one to a local veterinarian who will take care of it until it is big enough to release.

Laughing Dove on nest

Nest with two Laughing Dove eggs

Two Laughing Dove eggs in the nest

Day old Laughing Dove squabs

Parent feeding the chicks

Only one chick remaining in the nest

Nine day old Laughing Dove chick

Ten day old Laughing Dove chick

Edit: 14 November 2018

Our tragic laughing dove pair were in the family way again. Late in October we saw them cooing around each other at the nest where they tried raising their first family in September. On the 28th of October, we noticed the first egg in the nest and on the morning of the 31st the clutch was complete with a second egg and they started incubating, facing some harsh weather (heat and rain) in the process. The first hatchling made its appearance on the 11th of November, and by the 12th the pair had discarded the second, unhatched, egg. Sadly, on the afternoon of the 13th of November, the little chick also died – it might have choked as we watched it being fed by the mother not long before. Unceremoniously the hen kicked the little body from the nest and flew off.

We sure hope that this Laughing Dove pair will try again and hopefully be successful with their next attempt at rearing a family.

The first egg was laid on the 28th of October

And the second egg was in the nest by the morning of the 31st October

Sitting tight on the nest during a rainstorm (1 November)

Sitting tight on the nest in 40-degree heat

The first chick hatched on the 11th of November

The pair of Laughing Doves at the nest

Sadly the single chick died on the 13th of November.

Raucous Toad

24 Replies

Sclerophrys capensis (prev. Bufo rangeri)

The Raucous Toad is a regular inhabitant of South African gardens, especially those with running water fountains, and its duck-like “quacks” will be familiar to many people. Its natural habitat preference is for permanent ponds, wetlands, streams and rivers in fynbos, grasslands, savanna areas and coastal forests, where they feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates. Adults grow to 11cm in length. Raucous Toads breed in the summer months, with males calling repeatedly in groups from the vegetated margins of their watery abodes to attract and mate with the females. The eggs are laid in long strings among aquatic vegetation, and may number over 10,000 per female! Tadpoles take 2 to 3 months from hatching to complete their metamorphosis.

The IUCN considers the Raucous Toad to be of Least Concern. It is a common species but may be declining in parts of its range, which covers much of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Raucous Toad: Storms River Mouth has an amazing variety of toads and frogs that show themselves after dark

Raucous Toad

Tiny Raucous Toad

Tiny Raucous Toad, no bigger than a pinkynail

Tiny Raucous Toad

Raucous Toad

Juvenile Raucous Toad

Raucous Toad (photo by Joubert)

Raucous Toad

Well camouflaged Raucous Toad

Raucous Toad

Bokmakierie

28 Replies

Telophorus zeylonus

The beautiful Bokmakierie is a well known South African bird, easily seen thanks to their conspicuous colours and the vibrant call from which they get their name. They inhabit fynbos, dry scrublands, grassland and to a lesser extent open savannas, often near rocky outcrops, and is commonly found in suburban parks and gardens across their range. They feed mainly on insects and spiders but will also prey on small vertebrates, like lizards and baby birds, and also include eggs and a variety of fruit in their diet.

Bokmakieries nest mostly during spring and summer though attempts have been recorded throughout the year, raising clutches of 2-6 chicks that hatch after being incubated by both parents for a little over 2 weeks. Their nests are cups built of plant material in thick vegetation. The hatchlings leave the nest when they’re about 3 weeks old. Pairs are territorial. Adults measure about 23cm in length and weigh up to 66g.

The IUCN considers the Bokmakierie to be of least concern. They are common in South Africa (except most of Limpopo Province), Namibia and Lesotho, with their distribution extending marginally into Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Bokmakierie

Bokmakierie with a fat caterpillar

Bokmakierie

Bokmakierie (photo by Joubert)

Bokmakierie

Common Fiscal

24 Replies

Lanius collaris

The Common Fiscal, or Southern Fiscal or Fiscal Shrike, is a familiar garden bird in South Africa, usually seen singly or in territorial pairs. Adults weigh about 40g and measure around 22cm in length. They prefer open habitats but are extremely adaptable to both natural and man-made environments. Fiscals feed on a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate prey ranging in size from flies, caterpillars and moths to frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and mice (occasionally fruit) and hunt from open perches, usually catching their prey on the ground. Their habit of impaling large prey items on thorns or barbed wire to consume later has earned them the alternative name of “butcher bird”.

Fiscal Shrikes breed throughout the year, with a peak during spring and summer, and pairs may raise as many as three broods in a year. The male defends the pair’s territory while the female does most of the nest-building, using vegetation and other soft materials to fashion a thick-walled cup in a thorny bush or tree. It is also the female that does most of the brooding, with clutches of 1-5 eggs hatching around two weeks after incubation started. The male then helps to feed the hatchlings, which leave the nest when they’re about 3 weeks old but stay in their parents’ territory for about another 3 months more.

The Common Fiscal is considered of least concern by the IUCN and distributed widely over sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa they are found in virtually every corner of the country.

Common Fiscal

Mature Fiscal Shrike pecking up baboon leftovers

Immature Fiscal Shrike

Common Fiscal

Fiscal Shrike

Common Fiscal

Fiscal Shrike pantry

Fiscal Shrike

Common Fiscal

Fiscal Shrike

Common Fiscal

Southern Fiscal

Common Fiscal

Immature Southern Fiscal

Common Fiscal

Common Fiscal (photo by Joubert)

Common Fiscal

Fiscal Shrike

World Rhino Day 2018

29 Replies

The rhino poaching scourge continues to make headlines in South Africa, and the happiness at hearing about the ranger’s regular successes in the fight is often tempered by horrible news of another mass-killing incident, insider involvement or botched prosecution. With a 26% reduction in the number of rhinos killed in the first 8 months of 2018 compared to the previous year there’s reason to be optimistic that this year, like 2015, 2016 & 2017, will see a reduction in the number of animals lost and an increase in the number of perpetrators that were apprehended.

This year, on World Rhino Day, let us appreciate and celebrate these prehistoric-looking behemoths, with thanks to the army of dedicated rangers, soldiers and volunteers fighting the war to keep them safe.