Just Winging It…

Having concentrated, for several months now, on some of our larger mammals I thought it was time to shift the focus to our incredible bird assemblage. South Africa is home to approximately 850 bird species, of which 50 are found nowhere else on earth.

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Bird watching is extremely rewarding and is a great additional activity to any bush or 4x4 outing. For anyone interested in photography, birds are excellent – if somewhat flighty – subjects (pun intended!).

Being so spoilt for choice makes deciding which ones to write about something of a challenge. However, the Bee-eaters are in my ‘top five’ of beautiful birds, the others being: Rollers, Sunbirds, Kingfishers and the African Green Pigeon. Bee-eaters are skilled in flight and excellent hunters. Prey – predominantly in the form of bees, as their name suggests – is caught in flight and then taken back to a perch to be beaten. The tail end of the bee is rubbed against the perch until the sting and venom are discharged. The epitome of ‘fast food’ consumers, Bee-eaters complete the entire process of immobilising and de-venoming in 5-10 seconds. They then toss the insect into their mouth and swallow. Any parts of the prey that are indigestible are regurgitated in the form of pellets.