BIRDLIFE TROGONS BIRD CLUB
NEWSLETTER 05 –NOVEMBER 2016
From Sandy Olver and the team
Dear Trogon Members
In recent weeks the weather has continued to dog our outings but we had a most enjoyable away-trip to Umlalazi with a side-dish of Sappi Mill bird hide, Stanger on the return journey. This was followed a week later on a bit of a soggy day, by a visit to Eston Sugar Mill wetland (for reportssee blog:
AGM
Please diarise Saturday 18 February for the AGM which will be held at Umtentweni Library.
Upcoming Outings
NOTE: There will be no bird ringing in January and the February ringing will be on 12 February, which will be swopped with an Outing which will then be on 5 February (see below).
11 December06:00Umzumbe Flood Plain (moved to a week later than usual)
8 January06:30Umbogavango NR, Amanzimtoti
22 January06:30Culley Dam, Port Edward
5 February 06:30Sezela Sugar Mill, Pennington
12 February06:00Bird Ringing, Umzumbe Flood Plain
26 February06:30Mpenjati NR and Estuary
5 March06:00Bird Ringing (venue tba)
12 March07:00Durban Botanical Gardens
26 March06:30River Valley NR, Uvongo
2 April06:00Bird Ringing (venue tba)
9 April06:30Ellingham Estate
23 April06:30Stott Farm, Umtentweni
6/7 MayParrot count, Ingeli Forest
7 May06:00Bird Ringing (venue tba)
14May06:30Vernon Crookes NR, Scottburgh
28 May06:30Oribi Gorge/Vultures
Trip away
This will most likely happen in late May. Venues are being investigated
Cape Parrot Count – 6/7 May 2017, Ingeli Forest
Next year is the 20th anniversary of this project. Historically, the club has always participated (except last year when they changed the date) as it is an important conservation effort run by Professor Colleen Downs of Pietermaritzburg University. The club is able to reimburse either petrol or a double room at Ingeli Forest Lodge. If you would prefer to camp, there is a site that has a wonderful view from where parrots were seen on our previous count. There would be someone to tell you where and what to look for. If anyone would like to volunteer or for more details, please let Hazel van Rooyen know (contact details at end).
Birding Big Day at Selborne Country Club
Last month members were notified of the Birding Big Day being organised at Selborne Country Club on 25/26 November. Andrew Pickles and Liz Blomeyer will be assisting groups. Sandy Olver made an eye-catching display at the Scottburgh library to bring attention to this event.
Culley’s Dam by Stan Culley
Not too much to report as things are still fairly quiet birdwise. All the weavers (Village, Yellow and Thick-billed) are busy nesting. A male Cape Weaver has built a couple of nests but I have not seen a female so his efforts may be in vain. Southern Red Bishops and Fan-tailed Widowbirds have returned to the dam. A pair of Red-billed Teal put in a brief appearance about a week ago, this is only the second record for this species. With the water level being very high I am busy cutting back grass and reed in order to provide some open muddy margins.
It looks like a pair of African Pygmy-Kingfishers are nesting in the stream bank and a pair of Bar-throated Apalis are calling continuously in the garden.
Second Chance Avian Rescue by Michelle Pearson
A Narina Trogon was just one of many sick, injured and baby birds being admitted recently. It was found in the road in the Southport area, presumably a vehicle collision, and rushed through to us for further care. Fortunately the bird sustained no serious injuries and was released in the iGwalagwala forest recently.
A very weak Swift Tern was found on Uvongo beach by lifeguards and brought to us late yesterday morning. Sadly the bird passed away shortly after arrival due to severe emaciation and hypothermia. Constant strong winds and bad weather conditions are taking a huge toll on these birds, causing terrible exhaustion which makes it almost impossible to hunt for food and they become emaciated. Once they reach this stage, they will certainly die as they cannot recover on their own. Immediate intervention is needed, where they require a special fish formula with added vitamins to boost their immunity, combined with adequate heat. A weak bird can no longer generate its own body heat, thus will most likely die from hypothermia before organ failure. Seabirds in general, even with proper treatment and care, can take up to roughly two weeks to recover from exhaustion, unlike other birds which in general only need a few hours. Finding and releasing a weak seabird the same day will certainly be its death sentence. We would like to ask the public to please be on the lookout for beaching and weak seabirds on our beaches throughout the course of continuing bad weather conditions and to contact us immediately - 083 246 6765.
Eight newly hatched Egyptian Goslings sadly had to be rescued by taking them away from their mother last week as the only means of saving their lives. Egyptian Geese are finding it favorable to nest in built-up areas, especially where there is an attractive swimming pool, and unfortunately do not consider the dangers of these areas after their chicks hatch, such as domestic animals, as well as the ability for their youngsters to exit these properties in order to look for safety, as well as better food and water sources. In cases like this, these birds need to be caught and relocated, and trying to catch the parents can be a daunting task. Sadly after all our efforts and many hours of an unsuccessful attempt to catch the female, the tough decision had to be made to remove the youngsters. Thanks to a team of determined inspectors from the SPCA Lower South Coast for all their efforts and spending the entire day attending to the situation. And a big thank you to Tammy Nel for transporting these youngsters to CROW yesterday after their short 5-day stay here at SCAR.
A newly hatched Water Thick-knee was rushed through to us after a domestic cat discovered it on the beach. Fortunately this little guy suffered no injuries and will be cared for here at SCAR until he is ready for release in a few months.
Vulture Hide update by Andy Ruffle
VISITS
Visitors are still steadily streaming in, with recent guests coming from the UK, USA, Reunion Island, Mauritius and the Netherlands. We've also received a booking for a group of 12 from Northern Ireland for August 2017.
The highlight for November was a group of 17 members of the Hlokozi Bird Club from close to Highflats. It was very inspiring to see not only young faces, but rural faces. The group showed much enthusiasm for the vultures, gleaning information at every opportunity. Already involved with the Ground Hornbill Project, the club would now like to engage with traditional healers and farmers in their area to discuss the problems facing vultures. This will be particularly helpful to the Oribi birds which regularly forage in the Highflats area.
An article published in the South Coast Herald also prompted a call to me from the KZN Conservancies Forum. The article has inspired them to mobilize the conservancies to assist other rural communities to set up bird clubs.
BIRD BATH
We have just installed guttering on the hide, which will feed the Jo-Jo Tank. The self top up system is working extremely well, ensuring a constant supply of water in the bath. Since building the bird bath we have noticed a significant increase in smaller birds around the hide. Orange-breasted Waxbills are seen fairly regularly.
CHICKS
The vulture chicks are now almost ready to fledge. Infact, we have seen the odd one flying already. The Cape Wagtail hatched and fledged 2 chicks.
GENERAL
One of our tagged Oribi vultures was spotted on cliffs at a farm near Highflats recently. Mike and I will be travelling up to meet the landowner and survey the site. We would like to determine whether it is just a stop-over point or vultures are colonizing the site.
We will soon be purchasing a camera trap, once we have assessed the models available. This will be invaluable for capturing data at carcasses and photos of any other wildlife using the site.'
For bookings see and for more information click
Red-winged Starlings – feedback on last month’s story
Marie Tyson who reported on the activity, thinks she has solved the problem. A week before the “bad behaviour” began, the maintenance staff cleaned out all the gutters, which included old starling nests. When the starlings came to lay and brood – low and behold – their old nests had disappeared, so they had to grab nesting material in a hurry from the nearest source – hey presto!the weavers’ nearby nests. Now the starlings are back in the gutters, the weavers are building happily and order has been restored. All due to human interference!
Xclusive Directory
You may notice a short article about birds, if a copy of the KZN South Coast Xclusive Directory comes into your hands. Xclusive requested us to provide some information on local birds to add some flavour to their directory. (By the way, this did not cost the club anything and was an opportunity to punt our club and encourage birding.)
Marina Beach Hide
The hide has been removed but we haven’t heard to where.
“Bird Watching, please pass” Trogonscar stickers
Don’t forget, we still have magnetic car boot stickers for sale at R50 each.
Trevor Hardaker’s Rare Bird News
At the end of October some of us who subscribe to Trevor Hardaker’supdatesreceived notice via his SA Rare Bird News that a Black-tailed Godwit had been seen at the Sappi Mill hide in Stanger. On an impulse, six of us quickly got together and zoomed up there. On the way it started to rain but undeterred we continued and I am glad to report we did get to see it and even got a photograph – albeit with the cameras wrapped up in plastic bags and having to keep de-misting our binocs. A successful day, good fun in good company. Incidentally, anyone can receive these updates from Trevor Hardaker– either by logging on through the website at or emailing him directly at to ask to be added to the group. He is very willing and quick to share news on sightings which he receives from the general public and provides daily updates plus a weekly report of Southern African sightings.
FLEDGE
Most of us in our club are of the “older generation” and enjoy encouraging our grandchildren in the art of bird watching. Here is something Cool and Hip to make it more fun for the 10-18 year olds – a BirdLife SA club called Fledge. It is For Free. Youngsters can register online: On this creative and dynamic platform, education meets the digital age and everything is social. This is where fledgling birders and conservationists can express their interest in birds, birdwatching and conservation. Fledge will offer insights into careers in conservation, how to be a citizen scientist and where to look for the sweetest birds.
In Closing – may we wish you all a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year with Brilliant Birding. Don’t forget we would love to receive your comments, suggestions or chirps, please send them to Hazel van Rooyen: . (072 355 8837)
Kind regards
Sandy Olver and the Team