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GARDEN WATCH

- JULIE PINCHIN and MARGARET MACIVER

BUSHVELD IN THE 'BURBS

It is such a delight to have Woodland Kingfishers in the garden in suburban Johannesburg, especially as they have taken over a nesting log and have had chicks.

We watched as they both sat opposite the nesting log on numerous occasions, assessing its location. It was obviously deemed a good spot, as they had to wait to take occupation from the incumbent Green Woodhoopoes. Then, after they had moved in, over the following few weeks we would see fleeting glimpses of one or other adult going into the log.

The eggs finally hatched and the parents made frequent trips in and out of the nest to feed the ravenous mob. One of the adults would perch on a nearby branch and make a very loud 'tweep...tweep - tweep...tweep' to announce the arrival of 'Mr Delivery' with either a frog or skink in its beak. It would then proceed to whack the hapless prey to a pulp on the branch while simultaneously announcing its 'grub's up' call. One day we witnessed three skinks and a frog going down the hatch in three hours.

The chicks have now fledged and the activity has moved from the nest to the greater neighbourhood. We can't wait for the next nesting cycle. It is such a pleasure to hear that special call of the bushveld here in suburbia.