If you have a bird-feeding site in your suburban or rural garden and live in a region where honeyguides occur, the pleasure you derive from your efforts can be greatly enhanced if you can secure a source of beeswax. With an uncanny ability to track down the presence of beeswax or honeycomb, a honeyguide will become a regular visitor to the garden, even if only an intermittent supply of this unusual food source is provided.
Not only are members of the honeyguide family (Indicatori-dae) typically considered to be the only African vertebrates capable of digesting wax derived from either honeycomb (honeyguides) or scale insects (honeybirds), they also have a few other unusual characteristics. All members are brood parasites and all are probably polygynous; hatchlings have hooked bills for killing the young of their hosts; and all members have zygodactylous feet. The Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator is renowned for its remarkable cooperative relationship with human honey gatherers, honey badgers and baboons.
Being a hobbyist beekeeper gives me perhaps an above-average opportunity to witness the connection between these interesting birds and our all-important honey bees. Recent observations at the bee-feeding site in my East London forest-edge garden have shown me the feeding and social behaviour displayed by both immature and adult Greater and Lesser honeyguides. As the birds were not individually marked, I was unable to ascertain how many independent individuals of each species and age or sex class visited the feeding site, but my observations nonetheless suggested some interesting patterns.
This story is from the September/October 2022 edition of African Birdlife.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September/October 2022 edition of African Birdlife.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
agrochemicals and birds
By the year 2050, it is estimated that 171 million more hectares of agricultural land will be needed to feed a global population of 10 billion people.
arrivals and departures
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is committed to ensuring that breeding seabirds can return to a predator-free Marion Island.
FULL skies
High summer brings high entertainment to Botswana's Mababe Community Concession and Kazuma Pan.
specials IN THE MIST
With a distinct habitat and climate, Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands are a must-visit destination for any birder wanting to see a bevy of special birds.
MIDRAND marvel
Gauteng birders don't need to travel far to get their feathery fix. Midway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Glen Austin Pan has become a favourite patch for this returnee expat.
IN TOO DEEP...again
The annual sardine run along South Africa's east coast is a thrill and a challenge for underwater photographers, especially if you throw birds and inclement weather into the mix.
a journey through the mysteries of moult
As a bird researcher in South Africa’s botanically diverse fynbos biome, I have come to regard bird ringing as part of my journey to understanding moult.
Southern SIGHTINGS
The midsummer period lived up to its reputation as the busiest time for rarities in southern Africa and produced a host of really good records, including several that got twitchers racing all over the subregion to try and add these mega ticks to their lists. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
storm petrels in Kalk Bay
According to Roberts 7, both Wilson’s and European storm petrels occasionally seek the shelter of breakwaters during periods of strong onshore winds, but this is seldom observed off South Africa.
power-napping penguins
Periodic reduction in neural activity (sleep) is found in all animals with brains and seems to be essential to restore effective brain function. There is plenty of evidence of the adverse effects of not getting enough sleep, and recent research in humans has identified getting sufficient sleep as one of the four core pillars of living a long and healthy life.
