Another out-of-range species

A week or three ago, Christa van Zyl, a friend, first reported her sighting of a pair of White-fronted Bee-eaters (Merops bullockoides) on their farm about 20km south-east of Aliwal North. She first heard the call that did not sound familiar at all and then saw the birds in the garden of the farmhouse. At first she could not believe what she saw – so she went to her father-in-law to listen the bird calls on his Roberts' Multimedia Birds of Southern Africa. Now she had been sure, the call was unmistakably the calls she heard in the garden. The next obstacle was to get a photo of the birds. She literally stalked them, but could unfortunately not succeed in getting near enough to get a clear picture. She sent me the best she could manage – her photo is added to confirm the sighting.

If compared to the current distribution records of SABAP2 and the older distribution records of the previous atlas, it is very clear that these two birds are way out of their normal range of distribution.

Christa's sighting is a very good example of the contribution that citizen scientists can make towards research on birdlife and the distribution of bird species. Well done, Christa, this record gives us a clearer picture of the movements of this species.

Our next challenge wil be to capture the birds to ring them in an attempt to monitor their movements. We will attempt this if the birds stay around in the next few weeks.

Atlasing and daylength

After reading my remark on the increase of daylength (see post of 6 August) that get birds excited about the new season coming, a friend sent me this link which explains a lot of the change in behaviour of the birds.

http://www.news24.com/Content/SciTech/News/1132/f78b9d0be3f34646b3a193bb0e6dc850/07-08-2009%2011-08/Why_birds_sing

The research done by these scientists just proves that the new season is on it's way, and I was delighted to see my hunch about the daylength rather than higher temperatures had been on the spot. And yesterday I witnessed it when I observed the first Little Swifts that have returned to our patch. The past few days mark an increase in activity around the bird feeder in my garden as well, with male birds trying their best to impress the females.

All this new activity is a good sign for atlasing, as all the new activity tempts one to rather go out to atlas to welcome the migrants back, than to grind along at the workbench. A nice walk on the golf course or in the veld with binoculars restores mind, body and soul - and helps the endorphins to kick us into a new gear for the new season.

Birding at night

While working in my study, my ears are always pitched to listen for birds calling outside. A little while ago I heard a Barn Owl screeching - they are regular "customers" and I've found some of their pellets outside. Spotted Eagle Owls are regular visitors too. I'm planning on putting up an owl box in a large oak tree in the corner of our garden, to see if they don't want to set up permanent residence in the garden.

Earlier tonight I heard Crowned Lapwings as well as Spotted Thickknee calling - it is a bright moonlit night. Sometimes the odd Cape Turtle Dove calls in the middle of the night and I've just heard the first Cape Robin Chat of the morning.

Atlasing milestone

I've reached a personal milestone while taking part in SABAP2 - the second Southern African Bird Atlasing Project. On Tuesday this week, I've submitted my 350th full protocol card. That translates to an average of 29.17 cards per month and 19 124 individual records submitted. The average number of species per card is 54.6. The submissions cover 140 different pentads all around the country.

December is the month with the highest number of cards - 43. And February has the lowest number - only 21.

I have submitted 191 ad hoc protocol cards with observations in 180 pentads as well. Each of these contributions add valuable bits of data in the bigger picture of the bird atlas for our region.

With the first signs of spring in the air (daylength increasing) atlasing will become easier and with the first reports of migrant birds returning to our southern climate, I'm looking forward to go out atlasing. Some of the first birds appear with breeding colours as well - at my bird feeder in the garden I have a Southern Masked Weaver male in full breeding plumage as well as a very cocky Cape Weaver male.