BIRDS
Yellow-breasted pipit, Anthus chloris
Shy but very vocal, the yellow-breasted pipit can generally be found lurking through its grassland habitat, foraging for prey such as grasshoppers and beetles. Listed as vulnerable, they have an average height of 18cm, and weigh about 25g.When disturbed, it will attempt to escape on foot, running swiftly through the grass, only taking to the air when close to capture. In breeding, they are very territorial, with the plumage of both male and female are with bright yellow under parts and the back is brownish with dark brown streaks (very different from other pipit species). In non-breeding plumage the birds are brown below with dark brown on the back (also difficult to distinguish from other pipits). One of the most remarkable behaviours of this species is its song display while it soars high into the air and cruises for a short distance, before diving vertically into the grass. With these displays they establish and maintain lifelong, monogamous pairs, which breed during the summer rains between November and February. In winter, they do a small, seasonal, migration to lower lying areas in winter. Yellow Breasted Pipits are found in the moist highland grasslands of the Drakensburg and are endemic (a species only found in one country or area) to South Africa. They breed at altitudes of above 1500m above sea level.
Rudd’s lark, Heteromirafra ruddi
This is the only bird species classified as critically threatened in South Africa, making it the country’s most threatened bird species. The Rudd’s lark is endemic to the grasslands of east South Africa. Although records are spread over a large area, its distribution within this area is patchy. It is found within open, grazed, level grassland without herb and shrub invasion, mostly in sour grassland regions with high rainfall. It prefers stone-free areas of natural grassland on gentle slopes with relatively short grass cover, avoiding dense or insufficiently covered areas. Breeding success is low. These small, large-headed and short-tailed birds are normally 14 cm in height. They have dark eyes with a buff stripe in centre of its crown.Their legs are long and flesh-coloured. When threatened it has a habit of running fast on the ground before suddenly stopping. They prefer to breed on most moderately to lightly grazed unburned or burned sites. The nest is a cup covered with a dome, constructed from old grass and lined with fresh dry grass. Egg laying occurs from October to April, with peaks in January and February. Nestlings are fed on young locusts, other insects, worms and arachnids.
Wattled crane, Bugeranus caruculateus
Listed as vulnerable, wattled cranes are very large birds and reach up to 175 cm in length. It has a white neck and breast with light grey wings and back. Its under parts and tail are charcoal coloured. Secondary feathers extend nearly to the ground, giving the appearance of a long tail. The head of the bird consists of a grey cap with a distinctive red facial spot which spreads along the front. Males and females often look alike, although males tend to be larger. Wattled cranes have a far-carrying “kwaarnk” call, but are otherwise mostly silent. Territorial, they are found in pairs of two, or a trio with young bird. The species feeds on rhizomes, roots and bulbs. It will also take small aquatic snails, fish or frogs. In South Africa this species is found to occupy large home ranges of approximately 16 km2, which consist largely of grassland (75%) with a small core of essential wetland breeding habitat. The destruction of vegetation by fires in grasslands leaves adults more vulnerable to predation and hunting. This bird species is a flagship species of wetlands and grasslands conservation.
Shy but very vocal, the yellow-breasted pipit can generally be found lurking through its grassland habitat, foraging for prey such as grasshoppers and beetles. Listed as vulnerable, they have an average height of 18cm, and weigh about 25g.When disturbed, it will attempt to escape on foot, running swiftly through the grass, only taking to the air when close to capture. In breeding, they are very territorial, with the plumage of both male and female are with bright yellow under parts and the back is brownish with dark brown streaks (very different from other pipit species). In non-breeding plumage the birds are brown below with dark brown on the back (also difficult to distinguish from other pipits). One of the most remarkable behaviours of this species is its song display while it soars high into the air and cruises for a short distance, before diving vertically into the grass. With these displays they establish and maintain lifelong, monogamous pairs, which breed during the summer rains between November and February. In winter, they do a small, seasonal, migration to lower lying areas in winter. Yellow Breasted Pipits are found in the moist highland grasslands of the Drakensburg and are endemic (a species only found in one country or area) to South Africa. They breed at altitudes of above 1500m above sea level.
Rudd’s lark, Heteromirafra ruddi
This is the only bird species classified as critically threatened in South Africa, making it the country’s most threatened bird species. The Rudd’s lark is endemic to the grasslands of east South Africa. Although records are spread over a large area, its distribution within this area is patchy. It is found within open, grazed, level grassland without herb and shrub invasion, mostly in sour grassland regions with high rainfall. It prefers stone-free areas of natural grassland on gentle slopes with relatively short grass cover, avoiding dense or insufficiently covered areas. Breeding success is low. These small, large-headed and short-tailed birds are normally 14 cm in height. They have dark eyes with a buff stripe in centre of its crown.Their legs are long and flesh-coloured. When threatened it has a habit of running fast on the ground before suddenly stopping. They prefer to breed on most moderately to lightly grazed unburned or burned sites. The nest is a cup covered with a dome, constructed from old grass and lined with fresh dry grass. Egg laying occurs from October to April, with peaks in January and February. Nestlings are fed on young locusts, other insects, worms and arachnids.
Wattled crane, Bugeranus caruculateus
Listed as vulnerable, wattled cranes are very large birds and reach up to 175 cm in length. It has a white neck and breast with light grey wings and back. Its under parts and tail are charcoal coloured. Secondary feathers extend nearly to the ground, giving the appearance of a long tail. The head of the bird consists of a grey cap with a distinctive red facial spot which spreads along the front. Males and females often look alike, although males tend to be larger. Wattled cranes have a far-carrying “kwaarnk” call, but are otherwise mostly silent. Territorial, they are found in pairs of two, or a trio with young bird. The species feeds on rhizomes, roots and bulbs. It will also take small aquatic snails, fish or frogs. In South Africa this species is found to occupy large home ranges of approximately 16 km2, which consist largely of grassland (75%) with a small core of essential wetland breeding habitat. The destruction of vegetation by fires in grasslands leaves adults more vulnerable to predation and hunting. This bird species is a flagship species of wetlands and grasslands conservation.