BIRD LIFE IN THE WESTERN CAPE

BLUE CRANE

South Africa’s National Bird is the elegant and beautiful Blue Crane, which is proudly depicted on the 5c coin.

Zulu and Xhosa tribes revered the Blue Crane and in past years the Zulu Royalty regularly wore Blue Crane feathers, whereas the Xhosa warriors wore the feathers only when entering into battle.  

The Blue Crane is the smallest of the Crane species and found mainly in the Overberg and Swartland regions of the Western Cape, which is home to a population of approximately 20,000 individuals. (There is also a small population of 60 birds at the Etosha National Park in Namibia.)

The Overberg country fields with its ever changing colours, hues and undulating tapestry is a pleasure to behold. The Blue Crane’s natural habitat within this region is dry grasslands and shallow wetlands, but has adapted well to the artificial grasslands created by the grain / pasture farming systems in the Overberg Region. Adults have a varied diet – depending on availability – of grain (wheat, barley, maize), insects and lucerne. These birds do not have crops like most other birds and need to eat small stones to aid digestion.

The Blue Cranes engage in an enchanting courtship, accompanying by a series of complex coordinated calling in unison. The dancing consists of various behaviours such as bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing and wing flapping. Apparently it’s also done for releasing tension and to strengthen the bond between the couple. These birds pair for life from the age 3 to 4 years old.   

Normally they have 1 to 3 chicks and an incubation period, done by both sexes, is about 30 to 33 days. Chicks fledge (1st flight) between 3 to 5 months of age. An adult Blue Crane grows to 4 foot tall, (a height of 117 cm) and weighs 5.1 kg.

For protection from predators, like the Jackal and Caracal, they roost in water at night. The male Crane normally takes the role of protecting the nest from possible danger.

The Blue Crane is regarded as one of South Africa’s most endangered bird species and is listed as globally threatened in the International Red Data Book. A breeding program has been recently introduced to increase the population of these rare birds within the Hermanus and Overberg Region, with much success. The Western Cape has a stable and increasing population of South Africa’s National Bird the Blue Crane, due to the concerned and protective attitudes of the farming communities in these areas, toward ongoing contributions to Blue Crane conservation.

OTHER BIRD SPECIES IN THE WESTERN CAPE

Hermanus and its surrounding Fynbos areas are a paradise for bird watching and are home to over 350 bird species, with South Africa having approximately 1,000 bird species.

The Overberg Birding Routes has been developed by Birdlife Overberg, with excellent information of the local hotspots as well as bird checklists and brochures. Also trained local birding Guides are available to take enthusiastic twitchers on a magical bird watching journey!

Areas to be visited are - De Hoop, De Mond, Grootvadersbos, Fernkloof, Stony Point, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Rotary Way, Hermanus and Dyer Island, to name just a few in the Overberg area. All the Botanical Gardens like Kirstenbosch outside Cape Town are a must visit location too, as well as the World of Birds, Hout Bay. This is the largest bird park in Africa and features over 3,000 birds and small animals of 4,000 different species in walk through aviaries – experience nature close-up!

The Nature Reserves support a number of endemic birds such as – Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rock-Jumper and Cape Siskin, Victorin’s Warbler, Orange-Breasted Sunbird, Cape Weaver, Greater Double-Collared Sunbird, Francolin, Guinea Fowl, Whydah, Sacred Ibis & Hadeda Ibis and Ground Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Cape Rock-Thrush and sometimes the Sentinel Rock-Thrush can be spotted in the more mountainous areas.

More common include Cape Batis, Bar-Throated Apalis, Yellow Bishop, Red Bishop, Swee Wax-Bill, Neddicky, Grassbird and also a variety of Swifts, Martins and Canaries, Flycatchers, including the African Paradise, Blue Mantled Crested, African Dusky and Spotted, are regular in summer. 

To be spotted only in the Hermanus area are the Protea Seed-Eater, Agulhas Long-Billed Lark and Cape Clapper Lark.

Birds of prey species are numerous and regularly spotted are - Verreaux’s (Black) Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, Black Harrier, African Goshawk, Osprey, Rock Kestrel, Kite, Sparrowhawk, African Fish Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Owls.   

Waterbirds

A large diversity of Waterbirds can be spotted at several estuaries of Onrus Rivier, Kleinrivier, Botrivier, and Uilenskraalmond near Gansbaai and De Mond near Arniston, also the Vermont saltpan outside Hermanus (in winter and spring).

3 Grebe species, Heron and Egrets, Rails, Ducks, Coot, Moorhen, Teals, Geese and occasionally Flamingos and Pelicans maybe spotted on lakes and lagoons.

While on the coastline Cormorants and Darter, Gannets, Petrel, Skua, Tern, Plover, Sandpiper, Dikkop, African Penguin (the famous coastal birds - to be viewed at Betty’s Bay and Boulders Beach) and the African Black Oystercatcher.

When it’s dry and sunny in the summer season, many of the regional migrant species return.

 

 

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