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Young Indigo bird Grey hornbill – a new resident seen in some estates

The widespread use of pesticides Gauteng was once grassland (savanna)
is also contributing to declining with a few dozen species of birds.
bird numbers. And climate change? Look at what we have now in terms of
That, too, must also be affecting variety. There are now, characteristically,
habitats here and across the world. inside a typical ‘estate’, 100 and more
species – three or four times the variety
Michael Parr, president of the American that existed before. In my area, I noted Mary's cylindrical bird feeder
Bird Conservancy, suggests that 22 species visiting one small bird
apart from needed policy changes, table in August - it was still winter. Mary’s cylindrical bird feeder along
including bans on harmful pesticides with eight or more red bishop birds.
and strengthening bird conservation It's also noticeable how bushveld
legislation, the public can help by birds have become established inside It was inevitable that, nationally,
guarding against birds crashing into Highveld estates. It began with the regional bird population densities
windows (stick transfer patches on sudden appearance of the Go’way and distribution patterns would
windows) and cultivating gardens with bird in the 70s – pushed west by the be shattered by development. This
birds in mind - and keeping cats indoors. lowveld drought. More recently in some is why we must treasure existing
estates, the grey hornbill has appeared. witness areas such as bird sanctuaries
I believe the burgeoning number of The green pigeon is often seen and a and game reserves and why we
housing estates is playing an important mourning dove visited my garden last should be grateful for the way
role in mitigating our current bird year but that was surely an escapee. I estates and sensitively-designed
situation. They are, despite the hazards of see flypasts of rosy-checked parakeets suburbs are maintaining the variety
windows and cats, greatly augmenting almost daily in my estate – sometimes in of birds, if not the numbers.
birdlife. Their vast tree-planting flocks numbering two dozen and more.
programmes (usually indigenous trees) (I’d love to know where they roost.) We would appreciate bird observations
and development of water features – and from readers. Send your emails to me at
the buildings themselves - are providing The dusky indigo bird often shows up jcl@onwe.co.za or to Mary at
new nesting and feeding opportunities. and the red-headed finch – both visit msbr@mweb.

Go’way bird – one of the first bushveld birds to settle here Lilac-breasted roller – once spotted near the Jukskei River

Waterfall Issue 3 2020 33