White-breasted Cormorants nests decreasing in number at Modimola Dam and reason found.

With the Cormorants breeding period in full swing; the White-breasted Cormorants nests at Modimola Dam near Mahikeng in the North West Province have shown a significant decrease in number.

White-breasted Cormorants  breeding site

One of the dead trees providing platform to thirteen (13) nests

Last year, May 2010; I counted thirty four (34) nests at these breeding site.This year again, at the very same time, there are only twenty four (24) nests. My worst fear came to an abrupt end on Sunday the 8th May 2011, when I saw a man rowing his way on a makeshift rubber dhingy towards the nests. He was just about to bring down one of the nest with chicks when I interrupted him. Amidst the noise made by the frantic birds trying to protect their young he rowed his way to the other side of the dam and fled.

The bird trying to protect the nest with chicks

The alleged assailant rowing towards the nest. 

 I approached some of his friends and fishermen too; witnessing the spectacle, to find out what was he up to. They told me that the nesting material of the White-breasted Cormorant is highly sort by spiritual healers as it has some supernatural powers.

Female White-breasted Cormorant and chicks

Back with the chicks after the nest was rescued

The Modimola dam is part of the Molopo Wetlands and it is a home to five of the pelecaniform species. Great White Pelicans have started showing up in the dam in good numbers while the Pink-backed Pelicans are residents and increasing in number significantly. The Darter is in abundance. The Reed Cormorant numbers are almost equal to those of their counterparts, the White-breasted. Is this the new kind of poaching that will threaten these birds?

Larger birds with long legs in flight at Modimola Dam

The sky having cleared after several days of rain, I decided to go out for some birding at my favourite spot at Modimola Dam last Saturday morning. My day was rewarded with sight of larger birds with long legs scouring the shores of the dam. My highlites were the Great Egret, which is not common in the area and the Yellow-billed stock, an intra-African migrant.

Yellow-billed Stock

Taking off together with a juvenile

Airborne

Taking a pause in the long grass along the shores of the dam

Great Egret

In full flight. Legs are all black 

Squeacky whines and screams after taking off.

Taking a pause in the long grass

Pilanesberg National Park birding

My wet and rainy day at the Pilanesberg National in the North West Province did not deter me from capturing some of the birds as  migrants depart from our Southern African grounds. Local resident birds were also in dispaly in the soaking rain.

Red-billed Hornbill

Early morning snack. Found in great numbers around the park.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Quite photogenic. Common around the park.

 Violet-backed Starling

An intra-continental breeding migrant known to migrate to as far as Zambia, Sudan and Ithiopia. Some overwinter.

Golden-breasted Bunting

A melodious bird with a distinct song.

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

The head with bold stripes

Great Egret

The largest of the egrets

Red-billed Oxpecker at Pilanesberg National Park

Red-billed Oxpecker

Hitching a ride at the back of a giraff. They are regarded as near threatened due to the use of pesticides.Their numbers have drastically gone down.

While the majestic giraff is crossing the road; another stunt takes place. This is not safe.

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