BIRDLIFE TROGONS BIRD CLUBNEWSLETTER 08 – OCTOBER 2017

From Sandy Olver and the team

Dear Trogon Members

The last few months have been hit and miss weather-wise but we keep on birding as much as we can. Please note that our outing on 12 November has changed from Umbogavango to Eston Sugar Mill. Umbogavango have construction going on at the moment and are not taking bookings.

OutingsOutings from June to August were: Umdoni Park, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve and Skyline Nature Reserve/Uvongo River Conservancy. Unfortunately we were frightened off from Lake Eland by a bad weather forecast and Ingeli Forest and the CWAC count by really bad weather. Further details of outings can be followed on www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.co.za. Sadly, a few weeks ago Amanzimtoti Bird Sanctuary was the scene of a vicious attack on a lady visitor who suffered wounds and loss of birding equipment. Usually this pretty little reserve has a game warden around but you can never be too careful so, please, only go to these places if you accompanied. Empisini NR also had an attack on a couple picnicking recently but we had already received warnings about that area.

KZN Forum September feedback by Sandy OlverThis was circulated to members previously.

Conservation- Recycling

Sandy is corresponding with Evelyn Heunis of Team Recycling, Pennington Conservancy and with Lesley Frescura from BirdLife Port Natal in connection with litter, especially plastic, on our beaches and discarded fishing line. She will be contacting John Kieser of SA Plastics who is involved with fishing line bins. We will let you know of any future developments. If anyone has any bright ideas on solving the problem, let us know!

- Winter CWAC countAs the Ingeli Forest club outing and CWAC count were rained off, the winter CWAC at Harding Dam was done by Stan & Val Culley with Doug Butcher a few days later: 146 birds from 15 species. Val found other areas in our vicinity on the ADU website with which they would be prepared to assist. We have started to keep our own spreadsheet of records for the dam which is attached if anyone is interested in seeing a comparison.

- Cape ParrotsProfessor Colleen Downs has organised her students to assist on this count and Trogons aren’t really needed any longer.

- Blue SwallowsBirdLife SA will be appointing a co-ordinator but we have offered our services. Ezemvelo are OK with us helping with the monitoring as long as we get permission from the farmer to go on their property. We will await instructions.

Upcoming Outings08 October 06:30 Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve22 October 06:30 Culley Dam & Gaze Farm, Port Edward12 November 07:30 Eston Sugar Mill20-24 November Away-trip to Wakkerstroom (details circulated)26 November 11:30 Christmas lunch – San Lameer

2018 Outings14 January 07:00 Ingeli Forest & Summer CWAC28 January 06:30 River Valley11 February 06:30 Sezela Sugar Mill25 February 06:30 NPC Oribi3 March 14:30 AGM Sappers Glen10/11 March 06:30 Shongweni (day & possibly weekend away, tba)19-23 March St Lucia Away-trip25 March 06:30 Bushbuck Trail8 April 06:30 Lake Eland 22 April 06:30 Ellingham13 May 07:00 Umdoni Park, Pennington27 May 06:30 Oribi Gorge & Vulture hide

Culley’s Dam by Stan Culley

The drained section of the dam is now full again and has been replanted with around forty mature water lilies. Initial results are encouraging with an African Jacana immediately returning and this morning I spotted a Common Moorhen. Both these species have been absent for some time. At least a dozen male Yellow Weavers are busy building nests and a lone Grey Crowned Crane was seen recently. This morning I heard the first Black Cuckoo calling.

Second Chance Avian Rescue from Michelle Pearson’s blogA young Swift Tern was brought in and on assessment a hook was found and successfully removed from the right wing. Otherwise it was in a relatively good state of health besides being a bit thin and weak. After recovery time and nutritional support it was successfully released. Another very lucky Swift Tern survived ingesting a 50mm fish hook which was surgically removed by Dr Leon Bruggemann on the 26th of August. It showed no ill signs after surgery (and no lack of appetite, despite its weak condition), and was sent for further rehabilitation a few days later. Weighing in at a healthy 381g and passing all release criteria, it was ringed and measured by Andrew Pickles and took its flight to freedom soon after.

A Common Tern was brought in late one Sunday afternoon from Munster. Terribly exhausted and weighing in at 74 grams, after 2 weeks’ recovery time it started self-feeding, bathing and preening non-stop, which will got those feathers waterproof in no time.

A very exhausted Cape Gannet was found on Ramsgate beach early one morning by lifeguards. It remained in the care of SCAR until fit enough for release.

A juvenile Southern Giant Petrel was rescued by the public on Hibberdene beach whilst getting battered by the surf. The bird was terribly weak and weighed in at a mere 1.6kg. We are hopeful of a full recovery while getting plenty of rest, generalised treatment and fattening up over the next few weeks.

Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide update by Andy RuffleNest building commenced in April, with initial signs being very positive. The breeding success of the Oribi colony has been monitored by the farmer, Mike Neethling (et al), since 2001 with between 17 and 58 nesting attempts annually. The highest was in 2003. We were therefore expecting about 50 nests this year. In July, we performed a census of the nests using a drone. After painstakingly scanning through all the images, we were astonished to count at least 94 active nests. Not only was this a magnificent result, but it also threw our previous estimate of 120 individuals in the colony completely out the window. We can now safely say that the Oribi colony comprises over 200 birds.

On 22 August, we embarked on a project to construct a bathing facility for the vultures. The 4m diameter concrete bath is fed automatically by a 10,000 litre Jo-Jo Tank positioned 130m away. Construction was completed on 18 September. We were absolutely thrilled when our trail camera captured the first vultures visiting the bath on 21 September. Vultures are actually very clean birds and will find water to bathe after feeding. Being covered in thick down, they require a safe and secure environment to bathe and then dry off. The fact that our colony has taken to this new facility so quickly is rewarding beyond words. This has been a very financially ambitious project for us and we wish to express huge thanks to all our visitors, past and future, without whom this would not have been possible.

For bookings see bookings.vulturehide@yahoo.co.za and for more information click www.vulturehide.blogspot.com.

“Bird Watching, please pass” Trogons car stickersDon’t forget, we still have magnetic car boot stickers for sale at R50 each.

Kind regardsSandy Olver and the Team