Stunt Swallows

Two weeks ago massive winds associated with a hail storm broke a window of a store-room. Since we are not using the room much, we haven’t made an effort to repair it. Last week while in the room I noticed the makings of a swallow's nest on an old sliding door in the room. I presumed it was an abandoned nest from the summer breeding season. Imagine my surprise when a swallow flew into the room through the broken window, panicked, and flew out again.

I then noticed that a pair of Greater-striped Swallows were collecting mud from a bare patch of ground the sprinkler had been on and that they were still constructing the nest. That is unusual since it is really late into summer now – autumn is announcing itself in the cool morning breeze.

These photos show the bird flying in through the broken window in a show of aerial acrobatics that would have the bravest stuntman white at the knuckles.   

Collecting mud for the nest

Calling off a poor approach

Lining up for the entrance through the jagged glass

A successful entry

Another beak-full of mud into the nest 

and off again for some more

Mystery Snake

Mystery Snake

A few days ago while clearing rubble, I found this snake under a large rock. I have been unable to identify it – if you know what it is please comment or let me know at bluehillescape gmail.com.

It was less than 30cm long, the belly is slightly yellow bordered by dotted black lines. I don't know if its venomous – it wouldn't bite me ;)

  

Which of these Gin traps are 'legal'?

This is a photo of some leg-hold traps that can be purchased in South Africa, and are frequently used by farmers to control 'pest' species, which include Black-backed Jackal and Caracal. By-catch includes anything unlucky enough to pass by a trap, and often includes endangered or protected species – in our area Leopards and Serval have been caught.

New legislation has been passed that classifies 2 of these traps as legal – ironically named 'soft traps'. Can you tell which is/are legal?

You are probably thinking 'That black one on the left is clearly illegal – huge, nasty looking thing. Not so sure about the one in the middle, but that one on the right is small and looks the least threatening'. You're probably also thinking 'I wouldn't want to have my foot stuck in any of them!'

The answer surprises most people – the smallest trap on the far right is the only trap that by legal definition is illegal. Why? 'Soft traps' are legal as long as there is a 'gap' in between the clamps. Clearly that is a sick joke – the gap in these traps is less than a centimeter. If you were caught in the big black trap you would be in severe trouble – I was unable to set it using my hands alone as the springs are so strong. It needs to be set by standing on the levers, while presumably someone else puts the latch in place.

In civilised countries these sorts of traps have been banned. Unfortunately, they are in common use in South Africa. Once they are set, they are often not checked for days. Anything unlucky enough to be caught will be in agony until such time they either starve or die of thirst, or are lucky enough to be dispatched by a rock (why spend a bullet when you can use a free rock?). Unfortunately it will be a while until legislation is reviewed again, and there is little public action against them.

Fracking the Karoo

Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking) is a mining technique that results in the creation of fractures in rocks for the extraction of gas. Considerable controversy surrounds the current implementation of fracking in the United States as it is partly exempt from environmental auditing. Environmental safety and health concerns have emerged and are causing a high degree of concern – see http://www.facebook.com/gaslandmovie?ref=ts&sk=wall . Now Shell and other companies want to Frack the Karoo – where we have no legistlation, information or experience with this technique.

Here are my ten reasons for why Fracking the Karoo is a very bad idea:

1. Its the extraction of a non-renewable resource

2. It involves the use of questionable / exploratory techniques with unforeseeable environmental consequences

3. Commissioning companies have questionable or self-serving track records (Shell, Bundu, Falcon)

4. Use of HUGE quantities of water – a limited resource in a semi-desert environment

5. Use of UNDISCLOSED chemicals and other potential pollutants to important underground aquifers

6. Extraction of this gas may sideline sustainable energy resources for the area for which the Karoo is perfect – wind and solar.

7. Aesthetically and environmental consequences of any mining include erection of drilling rigs, noise, traffic, light, dust and general pollution

8. If economically viable, companies will undoubtedly solicite permission for go-ahead by presssuring government to declare the gas a 'Nationally Strategic Energy Resource', which will effectively shortcut procedures and rights associated with the mineral act. This is apartheid era legislature that was enacted by the Apartheid government as a consequence of energy sanctions.

9. There is potential ozone pollution

10. Land devaluation of an ecologically sensitive area

Luckily these companies are up against South African environmentalists, and a Dutch princess. Legal counter action is being planned.

Add your vote to the protest here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/295/--if-gte-mso-9xml-wworddocument-wviewnormalwview-wzoom0wzoom-wpunctuationkerning/

For more information regarding the environmental concerns regarding the fracking process visit http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking 

Nature's Valley via Addo - for a Chorister Robin and Cinnamon Dove

Thursday last week Anja and I drove to Addo via the Grootrivier valley (northern side of Baviaanskloof and Baviaans tourism's 'T3' route. We did a pentad (South African Bird Atlasing monitoring) on an unsurveyed section of the road close to the railway siding of Fullerton. It was eventful enough – flushing Sombre Greenbuls from the thickets, trying to sneak up on Grey-backed Finch-Larks and Namaqua Warbler, flushing off Booted Eagle, Rock Kestrel, Steppe Buzzard and a Fish Eagle.

Rock Kestrel in flight

Our ultimate destination for the day was the Rosedale Guest House just outside Addo town. Rosedale is an organic citrus farm, run by a charismatic and entertaining pair - Keith and Nondumiso. He is from Port Elizabeth and she from the old Transkei. In order to get married some 30 years ago under the apartheid regime, he was classified black at one stage, and she was classified 'honorary white'. After leaving in the pharmaceutical industry and starting citrus, they have now added hospitality to their list of achievements and their place is very nice. You can tell straight away its organic due to the large number of butterflies in the garden. Overall, very pleasant and highly recommended (not like the 'Reptile and Raptor' centre down the road at Lenmore – don't go there if you are into Reptiles or Raptors, but its okay if you're not).

After a tour of the organic orchard on the Friday morning we started our drive to Nature's Valley to meet up with the Lakes Bird Club for a bit of forest birding. Within minutes of arriving we were being shat on by Knysna Turacos – a token of good luck (so I told Anja anyway!). We had arrived early enough to do the Groot Rivier loop. By the way, this is a completely different Groot Rivier from the one we had driven along the previous day. The walk goes through one of the best preserved patches of South Africa's rainforest, with massive Yellow-wood trees.

The aim of the birding outing was to see Lemon (or Cinnamon) Dove and Chorister Robin. On arriving back to the campsite, we were greeted by both – the tame campsite Chorister Robin at one stage perching on my head while I tried to photo the slightly more wary Dove.

Immature Chorister Robin-Chat (Cossypha dichroa)

Lemon (Cinnamon) Dove (Aplopelia larvata)

The Saturday morning proved quite eventful. A pre-meet walk turned up some nice posing birds (see below). The group of about 15 of us were given an introductory walk by Geoff McIlleron, who was just launching his book 'Basic Bird ID' with club member Peter Ginn.

African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)

Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica)

Green Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus)

Knysna Turaco (Tauraco corythaix)

Knysna Woodpecker (Campethera notata)

Olive Bush-Shrike (Telphorus olivaceus)

Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)

Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importunus)