BIRDS

BY FAANSIE PEACOCK

ANTON KRUGER GREY CUCKOOSHRIKE

BLACK-FRONTED BUSH-SHRIKE

HOW TO FIND A BIRD IN A FOREST

Plop! A big raindrop hits my forehead. But what did I expect? If you throw your head back and stare at the canopy in a downpour, you’re asking for it.

It has been raining for two days straight. The forest floor has been taken over by streams and fat rain frogs. I’m covered in mud, soaked from head to toe, and my shins are scratched and bloody. I’m carrying two humps covered by a no-good rain jacket: a backpack with snacks and field guides on my back, and a bag full of electronic and optical gear in front. In my left hand I have a microphone dish the size of a Weber braai lid, and in my right hand a pair of binoculars that costs more than my car.

If a hiker encountered me on this forest trail, I wouldn’t blame him if he believed the stereotype of birdwatchers being a strange subspecies!

I’m looking for a rare black-fronted bush-shrike in the forests of Magoebaskloof, Limpopo. I parked my Fortuner on a narrow forestry road hours ago; now I’m searching on foot. As I dry my spectacles for the 600th time, I wish someone had given me these tips for birdwatching in a forest:

1EVERYONE LIKES A SUNNY SPOT. People tend to think that special birds are hidden away in the densest, darkest thickets, but birding is more productive along the edges of forests or in clearings where the sun breaks through the canopy. This is where insects are more active, grasses bear seeds, and the vegetation on the forest floor is more lush. It’s also easier to see a bird here than in the shadowy depths.

2LISTEN. When you’re in a forest, 90% of birding is done with your ears. Do your homework beforehand and memorise as many bird calls as you can. That’s easier said than done, so start simple: the“pretty Georgie” call of an African emerald cuckoo; the prrup-prrup-prrup of a bar-throated apalis; the ear-splitting whistle of Barratt’s warbler… And watch out for the chorister robin-chat: It mimics other birds’ calls and can easily fool you.

3GO SLOW. It’s better to cover only a hundred metres and see a handful of birds than to complete the route in record time with no sightings. Train your eyes to pick out movement: A few minutes ago, I became aware of a small bird quietly following me – a white-starred robin. And we both got a fright when a lemon dove burst from the undergrowth. This strategy has also led me to cross paths with the mythical buff-spotted flufftail – the most sought-after forest phantom.

4JOIN THE PARTY! I’ve discussed mixedspecies flocks in previous issues, where different birds band together to look for food. If you can find such a flock in the forest, you’ll tick many species off your list. Keep an eye (and ear) open for square-tailed drongo, Cape batis and yellow-streaked greenbul – these three are usually at the centre of all the action. Try to keep up with the fast-moving flock for as long as you can.

5LEAVE YOUR CAMERA AT HOME. Finding a bird high in the canopy is challenging enough and you have to be very lucky to get a winning shot. If you’re new to birding, focus on using your binoculars or even the naked eye.

6THINK VERTICAL. A forest is like a big hotel where different species prefer different floors. Green twinspot, terrestrial brownbul, brown scrub-robin, orange ground-thrush and many other species live on the ground floor. Blue-mantled flycatcher, bush blackcap, narina trogon and olive bush-shrike prefer the middle floors, while grey cuckooshrike, yellow-throated woodland warbler and Knysna turaco like to hang out in the penthouse.

7END THE OUTING WITH A SUNDOWNER. If you’ve had enough of the above-mentioned frustrations, find a scenic viewpoint and sit back. Not only will you have a beautiful view and birdsong to listen to, but many of the forest species are easier to see from a high vantage point. Cape parrots and African olive pigeons fly to and fro, black saw-wings hunt above the canopy, and crowned eagles loudly proclaim their ownership of this patch of earth.