Page 29 - Intra Muros October 2021

Interesting Facts: ESTATE BIRDING

• To avoid inbreeding, Cape Rockjumpers
must disperse between mountain ranges,
but there is no record of them being seen
between mountain ranges.
• Rockjumpers are experts at gliding down
slopes, but they never appear to fly up a
slope, preferring to hop over the ground.
• Young male offspring can remain with
the adult parents for up to three years,
helping to raise the current offspring
before moving on to establish their own
territory.
• The adults are extremely cautious when
feeding their young and can take up to 15
minutes to cover the last few meters to
the nest.
• They are found on mountains of up to
2 300m in elevation.
• They are found in groups of 2-5 and each Cape Robin Chat 2009
group has a single breeding pair.
• They eat arthropods such as grasshoppers, Some of the previous Bird of the Year candidates have been:
as well as geckos, chameleons, butterflies 2020 – Southern Ground Hornbill
and spiders. 2019 – Secretary Bird
• They don’t drink water but obtain all their 2018 – African Black Oystercatcher
water requirements from the insects they
eat. I hope that you found this article both informative and inspirational. Good luck birding and
• They cool down by panting, this results in hope to see you out there!
water loss.
*Source: BirdLlife South Africa

African Fish Eagle 2012

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