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Friday 19 April 2013

Hello birdie...

Well, Hello - Hello to you all!!!

Aaahh!!!  Birdwatching!!!!  What a lovely hobby it is!!!
Collared Sunbird


We love birds!!!  Why??!!!  Well, they are so truly independent of us, they really don't need us to survive!!!  They can be found anywhere and everywhere, cities, desserts, towns, fields, mountains, at sea, ... really anywhere that you can possibly think of, you WILL find a birdie or 10!!!
Redheaded Finch




It gets you outdoors and that is always a good thing!!!! I love being out in the bush and fresh air and before you know it, you're off looking for more birds AND you're walking!!!  Exercising!!!
Me, on a mission
And all you need is a good binoculars, a camera and a good bird book to help identify the birds!!!
Striped Kingfisher


They are so incredibly clever!!!!  They are the Masters of architecture!!! Have you ever watched a weaver bird built his nest!!!  Amazing!!! Weaved with grass and lined with feathers, it's warm, cosy and waterproof!!! 
They occupy prime properties with the best views and there are plenty of styles to choose from...
Common Weaver nests
If you're a weaver....
Masked Weaver




All they need is a tree, or a ledge, under the eaves, on mountain sides or just on the ground, a single blade of grass or a clump of floating debris, just a small little space is all they need and anywhere will do!!! And if you're lucky enough you'll find a special little home in a lovely garden!!!!
Feral Pigeon


Wouldn't we just love to be able to navigate like they do!!!  Over continents and the deep blue sea, to fly for days to a summer holiday home somewhere far away!!!  A journey once made, is a route remembered forever!!!
Greater Striped Swallow




And then there are the cleaner-uppers - the carrion birds!!!
Vultures Circling

Like vultures, kites, eagles, buzzards, hawks, harriers and gymnogene....






Whitebacked Vulture




There are the clever little honeyguides who guide badgers to a bees' nest and when the nest is broken they feed on the wax and grubs!!!
Barthroated Apalis


There are birds who sound the alarm on  pending danger, giving the animals time to escape either from predators or humans!!!
Scalyfeathered Finch


 They can soar.... or hover.... 
Jackal Buzzard


They can dive, swim, hop and run....and fly...
Saddlebilled Stork


They vary so greatly in size, from about 7cm to the biggest bird ... the ostrich, who stands tall at about 2m....
Male Ostrich


Some have brilliant colors ...  
European Bee-Eater


and some don't ... but when has white,black and grey ever looked better!!!
Blacksmith Plover




The males are almost always brighter and prettier than the females!!!
Blue Waxbill


They live on land ......
Crimson Boubou


....and in water....
Egyptian Geese


And then there are the nocturnal birds like ...
Spotted Eagle Owl


owls and others like nightjars!!!
Spotted Eagle Owl


They feed on a large range of insects, rodents, snakes, seeds, fish, frogs, worms and so on...
European Bee-eater


and then you get birds who filter the water to find their food!!! Like the beautiful, beautiful Flamingo!!! They wade in shallow water and feed on algae!!!
Greater Flamingo


I was so lucky to get this photo of flamingo's on our dam because I have never seen them again!!!  We just haven't had enough rain again like we did that year!!!
Forktailed Drongo




But inspite of all their survival skills and their abilities to adapt, there are still a LARGE number of birds on the endangered list!!!!  With humans being the their biggest enemy, destroying their habitat... and indiscriminately using poison in agriculture!!!
This beautiful bird is South-Africa's national bird....
Blue Crane



....our very own Blue Crane is high on the endangered list....
Blue Crane


and unfortunately, he's one of many!!!!
Can you imagine waking up one morning without the sound of bird - chirps??!!!  
Sadly that is not an impossibility!!!
European Roller


Next time you see a little birdie in your garden, I hope you'll enjoy it just a little more!!!
Laughing Dove


They really are incredible little creatures!!! And this is just what I see on my little piece of land....!!!!!
'Till next time dear friends..
Love
AMarie

***** PS: All the photo's on this post were taken here on our farm by myself and my sister, Margaret Klee!!*******

3 comments:

  1. Such lovely birds, on your doorstep, so to say....although I know your doorstep is a very large one! :) x

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  2. amazing, it's like living in a wild life park! The Blue crane is lovely. It really is an incredible place you live in. I can't imagine coming across an ostritch on your path! Heather x

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  3. Wow, so many amazing birds just right where you live, if you look hard enough. What incredible wildlife you have in South Africa. Great photos. x

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