Busy Birds Flying Freedom

Singing Songs Gently

Durban tends to be warm, some will breed all year long, others come and go some may have young others, fly in from the North to enjoy the warmer climate, here are some to enjoy from our region.

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) busy raising her family on a tiny island in fresh body of water, able to run on water are fiercely protective of their little ones chasing everything away that ventures too close.

Partial webbing on long strong toes in silvery-grey, legs yellow-green displaying a garter above the knee in orange-red quite an outfit on this sooty-grey body with red-knobs on the head.

The African green pigeon (Treron calvus) adults look similar, make excellent parents raising two eggs at a time. Season for them is May to February building a frail platform of twigs on a sloping fork in a leafy tree. Here is one on a tree top keeping a watchful eye!

Strange pigeon with parrot like behaviour, hanging upside down to get to fruit, unusual style for this pretty bird with a keen eye in slated-blue, legs and bill flashing red difficult to see between the canopy of forest or wooded savanna.

White-fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus) endearing couple trying to distract you from their nest on sandy beach. Pairs are monogamous, often stay in the same area for many years, we have seen them together, never seen the chicks or eggs, apparently they throw sand over the eggs before busying themselves to distract you away from their young.

Tiny little 50 gram birds, breed year round with little ones feeding themselves from day one, what a treat!

Cape Weaver (Ploceus Capensis) nest building among the reeds along the river, will take several females!

One of our acrobatic species in the weaver species that build hanging woven chambers, endemic to the region except the exceptionally dry region, not to worry, Sociable weavers live there in great numbers.

Southern masked-weaver (Ploceus velatus) building structures from tree overhanging water for safety, perhaps all those nests will be filled known to have up to a dozen breeding females at a time. Thus making them very busy birds!

When did trust leave the room, when too many appeared at the same time, busy birds. "Relationships are like birds. If you hold tightly, they die. If you hold loosely, they fly. But if you hold with care, they remain with you forever."

BUSY BIRDSThanks for visiting Feathered Friends, Entry to #SMAP No. 109 Contest with host @nelinoeva

Feathered Friends Community gratitude to @melinda010100 for sponsoring the contest. Our talented artist @barbara-orenya for on-going creative support.

All photography is my own, taken at various destinations.

Thought for Today: "Haste and hurry can only bear children with many regrets along the way." - African Proverb

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by @barbara-orenya