BIRDS
Namaqua sandgrouse, (Pterocles namaqua)
Kelkiewyn
Near-endemic to southern Africa, the Namaqua sandgrouse is especially common in the Nama Karoo and southern Kalahari. It is a herbivore and seed-eater and generally prefers gravel desert, sandy semi-desert, open dwarf shrubland and sandy savanna. It is nomadic and partially migratory, as it is mainly present in Namaqualand and Karoo in summer (September-April) and in the southern Kalahari it is most common in winter (May-August). It mainly eats seeds, especially of protein-rich legumes, supplemented with flowers, small fruits and fresh leaves. It does most of its foraging in the day with its head held low, rapidly pecking the ground and flicking away soil with its beak. It lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about three weeks. Chicks canfly in short burst at about 30 days old, flying strongly about 12 days later but only becoming fully independent at least a month later. They have greatly benefited from the agricultural practice of the sinking of waterholes.
Black-throated canary, Crithagra atrogularis
Bergkanarie
Mainly resident and sedentary, it mainly eats, seeds, flowers, nectar and insects, doing most of its foraging on the ground and in the foliage of shrubs, forbs and small trees. A monogamous territorial solitary nester, the nest is built by both sexes in roughly six days, consisting of a cup made of dry grass. Egg-laying season is almost year-round, peaking from about October-March. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for about 12-15 days. The chicks are brooded solely by the female but fed by both parents, leaving the nest after about 15-17 days.
Sclater’s lark, Spizocorys sclateri
Endemic to southern Africa, occurring from southern Namibia to the Northern Cape, marginally extending into the Western Cape. It generally prefers stony arid or semi-arid open plains with sparsely scattered shrubs and grass tufts. It mainly eats seeds supplemented with insects, doing its foraging on the ground, plucking seeds from dead grass tufts and exposing food items beneath pebbles. It is usually found within accessible distance of surface water. Breeding takes place primarily in August-December, sometimes from June. The species is monogamous and lays one egg. The incubation period is 11-13 days, and the fledging period is 10-12 days, occasionally 14 days. The effects of the increased use of its habitat by livestock are unknown; but it is thought that the species may benefit from the occurrence of water-points for livestock, while grazing may have a damaging impact.
Kelkiewyn
Near-endemic to southern Africa, the Namaqua sandgrouse is especially common in the Nama Karoo and southern Kalahari. It is a herbivore and seed-eater and generally prefers gravel desert, sandy semi-desert, open dwarf shrubland and sandy savanna. It is nomadic and partially migratory, as it is mainly present in Namaqualand and Karoo in summer (September-April) and in the southern Kalahari it is most common in winter (May-August). It mainly eats seeds, especially of protein-rich legumes, supplemented with flowers, small fruits and fresh leaves. It does most of its foraging in the day with its head held low, rapidly pecking the ground and flicking away soil with its beak. It lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about three weeks. Chicks canfly in short burst at about 30 days old, flying strongly about 12 days later but only becoming fully independent at least a month later. They have greatly benefited from the agricultural practice of the sinking of waterholes.
Black-throated canary, Crithagra atrogularis
Bergkanarie
Mainly resident and sedentary, it mainly eats, seeds, flowers, nectar and insects, doing most of its foraging on the ground and in the foliage of shrubs, forbs and small trees. A monogamous territorial solitary nester, the nest is built by both sexes in roughly six days, consisting of a cup made of dry grass. Egg-laying season is almost year-round, peaking from about October-March. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for about 12-15 days. The chicks are brooded solely by the female but fed by both parents, leaving the nest after about 15-17 days.
Sclater’s lark, Spizocorys sclateri
Endemic to southern Africa, occurring from southern Namibia to the Northern Cape, marginally extending into the Western Cape. It generally prefers stony arid or semi-arid open plains with sparsely scattered shrubs and grass tufts. It mainly eats seeds supplemented with insects, doing its foraging on the ground, plucking seeds from dead grass tufts and exposing food items beneath pebbles. It is usually found within accessible distance of surface water. Breeding takes place primarily in August-December, sometimes from June. The species is monogamous and lays one egg. The incubation period is 11-13 days, and the fledging period is 10-12 days, occasionally 14 days. The effects of the increased use of its habitat by livestock are unknown; but it is thought that the species may benefit from the occurrence of water-points for livestock, while grazing may have a damaging impact.