Endeavour to protect the Short-clawed Lark area

"Spotty" the Short-clawed Lark

After regular visits to the spot ( 40km West of Mahikeng in a village called Dibono) where Short-clawed Larks never fail to show up; I ultimately fell in love with a particular individual whom I later nicknamed "Spotty". Now, it was time to make sure that the area was secured and protected.
Having spent the last three years trying to convince the local villagers not to temper with this particular spot; the local headman agreed with me that I put up some warning signs in the area. In addition to that he stressed that I should get the local Chief's blessing.

In desperation I managed to save some few Rands and purchased some signs.

Now that the signs have been delivered; my next step is to go and see the local chief for  his blessings and erection.

You can follow this links  for the more on the story

http://mafikengbirds.blogspot.com/2012/05/short-clawed-lark-near-threatened.html          

http://mafikengbirds.blogspot.com/2013/05/short-clawed-lark-spotty-revisited.html              

http://mafikengbirds.blogspot.com/2011/10/short-clawed-lark-final-frontier.html                    

Rain at long last and then more migrants

We had two days of silent showers as a welcome relieve to the drought stricken areas around Mahikeng.
With the first rays of sunshine, this afternoon; I went out birding. One could hear the sound of birds again amidst the fresh rain soaked ground and trees.
I was first greeted by the Red-backed Shrike, the common summer visitor, perching conspicuously on a branch. Hooray!!! summer is here.

Red-backed Shrike



Birding in winter: is still fun

It's already winter time down here in South Africa. All migrants are gone and some of the locals are really wonderful and keep the spirit of birding alive. Here are some of the locals.

Bokmakierie - a near endemic resident

Temminck's Courser - a fairly common resident

Marico Flycatcher - a common near endemic resident

 

Capped Wheatear - common localised resident

Amur Falcons arrive to confusion at Mahikeng uprooted roost tree site

Amur Falcon arriving to an uprooted roost tree

Today , after a night of heavy rains, a group of Amur Falcons together with some more Lesser Kestrels arrived for their annual migration in the Mahikeng CBD to find their favorite roost tree uprooted.
They circled lower than ussual around the spot where their roost tree was and perched on nearby buildings and dead trees. A bigger number had turned out  today and it was interesting to see them hovering lower than ussual around the spot where their favourite tree once stood.

Graph showing how over the years the numbers have increased

The year 2010 had a record number of migrating kestrels and falcons coming to roost at the tree in the Mahikeng CBD than  past years. The numbers are likely to drastically decline this year.

Migrating Kestrels arrive to find familiar roost tree uprooted in Mahikeng

Lesser Kestrel back to overwinter but familiar roost tree no where to be found

The first group of a  handful of Lesser Kestrel, mainly males, arrived at the uprooted roost tree in the Mahikeng CBD on Monday the 14th November 2011 at 18h15. They are one day later than last year.
After circling the area in search of their annual roost tree they took refuge on a dead tree nearby.
More than 3000 birds came to roost in the uprooted tree last summer.It will be interesting to see how they are going to react to the new situation.

The giant roost tree ready to be brought down last winter

Winter birding

After three days of cold and wet winter. I woke up to a warm Saturday morning with birds singing from the cold spell. Among those who were out to feed were the following.

Groundscraper Thrush 

Groundscraper Thrush snack

Cape Wagtail

Cape Wagtail

Mahikeng's migrating Kestrels roost tree succumbs to pressure

Today, the 20th April 2011, the Mahikeng Kestrel roost tree was cut and brought down to give way to a business development. The tree has hosted migratory birds from as far as Russia and China during Summer every year for the past decades.The birds had just left at the begining of April this year and are expected to be back in early November again for Summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
 

The giant ceases to exist as life goes on around it.

Holiday home is NO MORE

Mahikeng's migrating Kestrels roost tree under threat

The migrating Kestrels roost tree at the Corner of Hatchard and Tillard Streets in Mahikeng (Nort West Province - Republic of South Africa) has to give way to a new business development. The tree has been a host to more than 3000 migrating Kestrels  every summer when they head down to Southern Africa from their breeding grounds in Europe and Asia.

It is only a week after the birds' departure that their natural host becomes a victim of circumstsnces. The birds are expected to be back by early November 2011.

The tree is situated inside the late Mrs E. Bernard property, who was a Kestrel lover and an avid monitor. The local bird club, The Mafikeng Bird Club, was using  this tree to monitor migrating Kestrels roost in colaboration with other roosts monitors in several towns across the country through the Migrating Kestrels Project.

In 2005 there were only 500 birds counted from the tree as compared to 3700 in February 2011.It hosts Lesser Kestrels, Amur Falcons and Red-footed Falcons. The Lesser Falcons being in the majority, followed by the Amur Falcons. The Red- footed falcons are always in the least.

The tree standing alone after the site was cleared

The giant ready to go down on Sunday the 10th April 2011 if all goes according to plan