November 2014 No 43 KZN BIRDS Newsletter of the KZN Branches of BirdLife South Africa KZN BIRDS No 43 KZN BIRDS No 43 EDITORIAL CONTENTS CHAIR’S CHIRPS Birders’ hall of fame 3 Chair’s Chirps 3 BirdLife Midlands BIRDING has as much to do with people 4 BirdLife Port Natal as birds. What may be a hobby for many 10 BirdLife Trogons people can become an abiding passion 11 BirdLife Sisonke for some. And over the years this IN spite of the long dry winter and early 12 BirdLife Zululand Roger O’Neill recreational pastime has produced spring, our birding outings have been ABOVE: Southern Bald Ibis flying characters as colourful as the subjects 14 BirdLife KZN Bird Forum very rewarding. The KwaZulu-Natal against the cliffs at Zulu Falls they pursue. 14 Chameleon mystery unravelled Midlands provides us with a diverse We would like to create an online “hall range of habitats and places to visit. The conservation and promoting BirdLife of fame” of people in KwaZulu-Natal who 15 Conservation and Projects regular Sunday morning outings to South Africa (BLSA) nationally and have made their mark by participating in 15 Lifting the veil on falconry Darvill are always productive. Then internationally. We are very fortunate to there were visits to Bedrock Lodge, club activities, ornithology or the 17 Raptor ringing day have a thoroughly professional team in Kilgobbin Forest in the Dargle, Zulu Falls conservation of birds. You are invited to 18 2014 Cape Parrot Big Day report BLSA. near Mooi River, Albert Falls Dam The BirdLife KZN Chairs’ Forum was send in the names of avid birders, past or Nature Reserve, Kenneth Stainbank also very constructive. These meetings present, and anecdotes about birding 21 Bird Notes and observations exploits for possible inclusion on the Nature Reserve and Benvie in the ensure that bird conservation issues 21 Unusual breeding records BirdLife Port Natal website. This will be a Karkloof. remain high on the agendas of the 22 LBJ makes history on KZN south coast way of recognising the contribution of The BirdLife KZN Bird Forum on relevant government bodies and NGOs, many ordinary people to the pursuit of Conserving Birds was a really special as well ensuring that the interests of all 24 Bird Trip birdwatching. Send names, a short event. The programme and presenters the members of BLSA and the KZN 23 East Africa in 100 days: part 3 biography, photographs and the reasons gave those who attended an update on clubs are looked after well. All credit to for inclusion to t h e v a r i o u s b i r d c o n s e r v a t i o n the organisers Roy Cowgill and Lesley 27 Honorary Recorder’s Report [email protected] programmes being undertaken in KZN Frescura. B L P N i s a l s o c a l l i n g f o r t h e and in South Africa. It is so encouraging The Midmar Game Park is open to the 31 Club Activities nomination of candidates for its annual seeing such passionate and committed public after a long closure. Entrance is Feather in the Cap award. Please people involved in a wide spread of by either showing a Golden Rhino or contact the chair Lesley Frescura, at projects. The highlight of the forum Wild Card or an entrance ticket [email protected] m e e t i n g w a s M a r k A n d e r s o n ’s purchased at the main resort offices and presentation on what he and his signing the register at the Thurlow Gate. Crystelle Wilson dedicated team are doing for bird It is a great place to visit and find Grey- KZN BIRDS crowned Cranes and Blue Cranes either KZN Birds is the newsletter of BirdLife Port Natal, BirdLife KZN Midlands, BirdLife Zululand, BirdLife Sisonke and BELOW: Barend Booysen was the on the adjacent farmland or at the BirdLife Trogons, all branches of Birdlife South Africa, and is published three times a year. Any member of the public, water’s edge. whether members of a branch or not, are invited to submit articles for publication. Views expressed in KZN Birds are leader of the club's July outing to not necessarily those of the editor, the aforementioned clubs or BirdLife SA. All national rarities are subject to Kilgobbin Forest The dam water is receding leaving acceptance by the National Rarities Committee. Drummond Densham bare ground and many aquatic birds can Submissions are used at the discretion of the editor and may be held back for future editions. Contributions can be observed. On the control burnt areas be sent to the Editor, Crystelle Wilson, at [email protected] or typed or neatly written and posted to Crystelle at 2 Lanville, 149 North Ridge Road, Durban many grassland birds can be spotted. 4001. Good quality, high resolution digital photographs are The club has enjoyed all the indoor also welcome. Telephone: 031 2080577 or 082 7235158 Advertising in KZN Birds Per issue evening meetings both in Howick at Front cover logo R1000 Amber Valley Auditorium and at the The deadline for the next issue Back page colour R1500 is 1 February 2015 Full Page inside b&w R 1000 Woodgrove Centre in Pietermaritzburg. Half Page R 500 Front cover: Pel’s Fishing Owl juvenile - Hugh Chittenden Quarter Page R 250 Drummond Densham Desktop Publishing: Crystelle Wilson Smalls R2 per word 033 3304039 November 2014 2 3 November 2014 KZN BIRDS No 43 KZN BIRDS No 43 EDITORIAL CONTENTS CHAIR’S CHIRPS Birders’ hall of fame 3 Chair’s Chirps 3 BirdLife Midlands BIRDING has as much to do with people 4 BirdLife Port Natal as birds. What may be a hobby for many 10 BirdLife Trogons people can become an abiding passion 11 BirdLife Sisonke for some. And over the years this IN spite of the long dry winter and early 12 BirdLife Zululand Roger O’Neill recreational pastime has produced spring, our birding outings have been ABOVE: Southern Bald Ibis flying characters as colourful as the subjects 14 BirdLife KZN Bird Forum very rewarding. The KwaZulu-Natal against the cliffs at Zulu Falls they pursue. 14 Chameleon mystery unravelled Midlands provides us with a diverse We would like to create an online “hall range of habitats and places to visit. The conservation and promoting BirdLife of fame” of people in KwaZulu-Natal who 15 Conservation and Projects regular Sunday morning outings to South Africa (BLSA) nationally and have made their mark by participating in 15 Lifting the veil on falconry Darvill are always productive. Then internationally. We are very fortunate to there were visits to Bedrock Lodge, club activities, ornithology or the 17 Raptor ringing day have a thoroughly professional team in Kilgobbin Forest in the Dargle, Zulu Falls conservation of birds. You are invited to 18 2014 Cape Parrot Big Day report BLSA. near Mooi River, Albert Falls Dam The BirdLife KZN Chairs’ Forum was send in the names of avid birders, past or Nature Reserve, Kenneth Stainbank also very constructive. These meetings present, and anecdotes about birding 21 Bird Notes and observations exploits for possible inclusion on the Nature Reserve and Benvie in the ensure that bird conservation issues 21 Unusual breeding records BirdLife Port Natal website. This will be a Karkloof. remain high on the agendas of the 22 LBJ makes history on KZN south coast way of recognising the contribution of The BirdLife KZN Bird Forum on relevant government bodies and NGOs, many ordinary people to the pursuit of Conserving Birds was a really special as well ensuring that the interests of all 24 Bird Trip birdwatching. Send names, a short event. The programme and presenters the members of BLSA and the KZN 23 East Africa in 100 days: part 3 biography, photographs and the reasons gave those who attended an update on clubs are looked after well. All credit to for inclusion to t h e v a r i o u s b i r d c o n s e r v a t i o n the organisers Roy Cowgill and Lesley 27 Honorary Recorder’s Report [email protected] programmes being undertaken in KZN Frescura. B L P N i s a l s o c a l l i n g f o r t h e and in South Africa. It is so encouraging The Midmar Game Park is open to the 31 Club Activities nomination of candidates for its annual seeing such passionate and committed public after a long closure. Entrance is Feather in the Cap award. Please people involved in a wide spread of by either showing a Golden Rhino or contact the chair Lesley Frescura, at projects. The highlight of the forum Wild Card or an entrance ticket [email protected] m e e t i n g w a s M a r k A n d e r s o n ’s purchased at the main resort offices and presentation on what he and his signing the register at the Thurlow Gate. Crystelle Wilson dedicated team are doing for bird It is a great place to visit and find Grey- KZN BIRDS crowned Cranes and Blue Cranes either KZN Birds is the newsletter of BirdLife Port Natal, BirdLife KZN Midlands, BirdLife Zululand, BirdLife Sisonke and BELOW: Barend Booysen was the on the adjacent farmland or at the BirdLife Trogons, all branches of Birdlife South Africa, and is published three times a year.