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Birding the Ndumo area, South Africa

10,000 Birds

Ndumo Game Reserve lies in the Easternmost part of South Africa, close to the border of Mozambique and Eswatini. I am sure it has some value, but would I really want to spend a few months or even years on “Ticks on Crested Francolins and on the vegetation on a farm in Limpopo Province, South Africa “ ?

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Crested and Proud

10,000 Birds

Their main use is to display – either to communicate with other members of the species or to scare other species, as a raised crest makes the bird appear larger. In fact, crests occur in at least 20 of the 30 orders of extant birds, and in all major groups of passerines. Crests are made of feathers.

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An afternoon in the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

10,000 Birds

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. They raise their trunks, sniffing the air.

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Where’s BBOTY?

10,000 Birds

A small flock of Merops bullockoides were feeding in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Large clumps of droppings, yet to be broken down by bugs, bacteria, or a returning rhino, were used as slightly raised perches. Thus my BBOTY for 2019 was; White-fronted Bee-eater. They were chasing flies around a rhinoceros midden.

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Is my Rhino Still Alive?

10,000 Birds

The annual number of rhino poached in South Africa last year rose to 1,215, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa told a media briefing in Pretoria two weeks ago. Conservation Africa Mammals poaching South Africa' On average, over 100 rhinos were illegally killed each month.

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Bottoms up!

10,000 Birds

Last month, in Pilanesberg National Park near Johannesburg in South Africa, I had no such luck, but the animals’ poses did give me the opportunity to wish you all the best for the coming New Year. May you be happy, healthy and successful.

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Hide at Mankwe Dam

10,000 Birds

It is built to reach out into the water when the dam is full and is reached along a raised walkway, screened from the mammals, reptiles and birds that may be roosting, resting, feeding, drinking or waiting in ambush close by. Birding Destinations Pilanesberg National Park South Africa'