A few weeks ago the most recent nest platform and its supporting branch fell down. Ruan Viljoen from the Warriors Academy volunteered to erect a new platorm. The only suitable branch we found is 10m up. We sincerely hope the Bat Hawks accept the new platform.
These pictures show Ruan climbing the tree, attaching the platform in place and a final image of the platform decorated with a few sticks to entice the birds to make their nest there.
Thank you Ruan, hope we can put more nests platforms up.
Our Blog describing the original nest platform erection.
See the YouTube video of Ruan Viljoen climbing and attaching the platform.
Roberts Bird books: History of the naming of the Cape Parrot.
Using the Roberts bird books on my shelf I have tried to trace the emergence of the Cape Parrot name, as we know it today. I scanned the maps from the books. The caption on the map indicates which version of Roberts that the map comes from. I have also selected some of the information that helps place the thinking at that time. The name at the top of each “blurb” is the name used for that edition. The map of the Brown-necked Parrot from the Roberts Bird Guide 2nd edition still indicates that the Cape and Brown-necked parrots share a similar distribution. I will describe in a later post that this is no longer thought to be the case.
Roberts 3rd ed 1971
Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus robustus Distribution: Alexandria forest eastwards to Natal and Zoutpansberg; Damaraland and Rhodesia northwards to West Africa and Tanzania. Habits: Not uncommon, but rather restricted in its habitat, being common in some areas and rare in others quite close by. Essentially a bird of the forests and thick bush.
Roberts 5th ed 1984
Cape Parrot(Brown-necked Parrot)Poicephalus robustus Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; in s Africa confined to E, SE and Caprivi. Habitat: Evergreen and riverine forest, well developed woodland. Roosts and nests above 900 m in most of S Africa, but in Baobab and riverine woodland in Limpopo Valley; roosts singly, not in flocks. May fly over 100 km to feeding areas, usually lower-lying and coastal forests, using set flight paths; forages by clambering about high in trees.
Roberts 6th ed 1993
Cape ParrotPoicephalus robustus Status: Locally common to rare nomadic resident; seasonal migrant in n Zimbabwe, August to December. Vulnerable (RDB). Northern subspecies P. r. suahe- licus has grey head and probably discontinuous distribution, so could be separate species.
Roberts Bird Guide 1st ed 2007
Cape ParrotPoicephalus robustusSTATUS Rare and localised endemic with a total population of under 1000 birds (2004). Regarded as Endangered with numbers still decreasing due to low br success and losses to captive bird trade. Sedentary but undertakes long-distance feeding forays between forests. Usually in small flocks or family groups. HABITAT Afromontane forest; occasionally forages elsewhere, such as in pecan nut plantations.
Roberts Bird Guide 2nd ed 2016
Cape ParrotPoicephalus robustus Blurb almost identical to 1st edition Roberts Bird Guide
Roberts Bird Guide 2nd ed 2016
Brown-necked ParrotPoicephalus fuscicollisHabitat Riparian and lowland savanna, usually with Baobab trees; does not usually enter Afromontane forest in our region. Food Primarily kernels of unripe fruit from Marula (Sclerocarya), Mobola Plum (Parinari), Nyala-tree (Xanthocercis), and corkwoods (Commiphora); also fruit flesh. Br Nests high in Baobab cavities.
Birding on Dragonwyck Farm.
Walking and Birding
Our cottages are surrounded by plants selected to attract birds. This is perfect for the birders who prefer the birds to come to them. Over the years we have developed many trails. Some follow the streams and pass through riverine bush. Others take you into our forest. Concrete benches have been placed at spots where you can relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Walk the trails in the at first light and soak up the sounds of the morning bird chorus. Find a bench and wait for the birds to come to you while you sip your coffee. In the afternoons and evenings, the birding from your veranda can be very entertaining.
This is the map of all the walks on the farm. The total distance is about 4km. Because of the mountainous nature of the farm, only the roads are suitable for guests who have disabilities.
Bird Hide
We have recently built a bird hide in our house forest. Twenty years ago this area was a litchi orchard. We removed the litchis as the monkeys were not keen to share the fruit. We allowed the natural regrowth of local shrubs and trees and also planted selected specimen trees.
The hide was made using old creosote poles and corrugated roofing sheets found in our shed.
This is the view from inside the hide
The forest trees and grass in front of the hide.
Birds photographed from the hide.
Birders Cottage Bird Photographs: Brendan Ryan
Brendan Ryan has visited Magoebaskloof Birders Cottage several times. These photographs are from his last visit in 2022.
Redbacked Mannikin
Cape Parrot
Tambourine Dove
Scaly-throated Honeyguide
Yellow-streaked Greenbul
White-starred Robin
Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher
Olive Woodpecker
Grey Cuckoo Shrike
Cape Batis
African Firfinch
Square-tailed Drongo
Black-fronted Bushshrike
Birders Cottage Bird Photographs: Conrad Visser
These excellent photographs were taken by Conrad Visser in the winter of 2021 in our Limpopo Escarpment Forest. The conditions were cold and mostly overcast. The Yellow-bellied Greenbul is a first for me on the farm. The other birds are typically seen when ever you go out birding. The SABAP2 pentad that covers the farm.
Black Sparrowhawk nesting in giant Eucalypt near Woodbush Forest
This morning, 19 September, I took a drive to the tallest planted tree in the world. David Letsoalo a local bird guide had given me directions to a Black Sparrowhawk nest located just behind the tallest tree. I found the nest without any difficulty but there was no sign of the birds. According to Roberts Bird Guide 2, their peak nesting season is July-September. This Black Sparrowhawk nest is so high that there is no chance to get a view into the nest, the Sparrowhawks could well be in residence. According to David, Crowned Eagles are also nesting in this copse of giant Eucalypts. They were calling but I could not find their nest.
Other birds I heard calling: Narina Trogon, Barratt’s Warbler, Terrestrial Brownbul, African Emerald Cuckoo, Sombre Greenbul.
These trees were planted in 1906 by Mr Eastwood. My blog article gives some background as to why these Eucalyptus trees were planted so many years ago. Although Eucalypts provide us with much needed poles and saw wood they are highly invasive and threaten our water resources. Here is a very interesting Link.
The Rain Shadow Birding Route, as its name implies, is very dry compared to the Woodbush Forest and Magoebaskloof Birders Cottage only about 15km to the north east. I have assigned the beginning of the route as the point where the Annies Fortune road drops down in the dry Ga-Molepo region. The end of the route is where it joins the R71. The route runs through mostly commercial cattle farming area. The route passes an interesting Prickly Pear plantation, reinforcing the dryness of the area. The vegetation is acacia thornveld. In winter, the flowering aloes provide lots of colour.
The route covers part of the SABAP2 pentad 2355_2950 wherein 212 bird species have been recorded over the years.
My suggestion for birding is that you drive slowly until you hear a bird calling. Stop, park on the side of the road and walk up and down the road. Please do not go through fences to follow a bird! You might be approached by a farmer checking up on a strange car. This is a public, road so birders are well within their rights to use the road.
The start of the Rain Shadow Birding Route.Aloes and acacia thorn.typical of the area.
This birdlist below is taken from the SABAP2 website for pentad 2355_2950
Ref
Common group
Common species
Genus
Species
1
622
Apalis
Bar-throated
Apalis
thoracica
2
625
Apalis
Yellow-breasted
Apalis
flavida
3
533
Babbler
Arrow-marked
Turdoides
jardineii
4
432
Barbet
Acacia Pied
Tricholaema
leucomelas
5
431
Barbet
Black-collared
Lybius
torquatus
6
439
Barbet
Crested
Trachyphonus
vaillantii
7
672
Batis
Cape
Batis
capensis
8
673
Batis
Chinspot
Batis
molitor
9
404
Bee-eater
European
Merops
apiaster
10
410
Bee-eater
Little
Merops
pusillus
11
808
Bishop
Southern Red
Euplectes
orix
12
810
Bishop
Yellow
Euplectes
capensis
13
709
Boubou
Southern
Laniarius
ferrugineus
14
546
Brownbul
Terrestrial
Phyllastrephus
terrestris
15
731
Brubru
Brubru
Nilaus
afer
16
545
Bulbul
Dark-capped
Pycnonotus
tricolor
17
872
Bunting
Cinnamon-breasted
Emberiza
tahapisi
18
874
Bunting
Golden-breasted
Emberiza
flaviventris
19
720
Bush-shrike
Black-fronted
Telophorus
nigrifrons
20
721
Bush-shrike
Gorgeous
Telophorus
quadricolor
21
723
Bush-shrike
Grey-headed
Malaconotus
blanchoti
22
717
Bush-shrike
Olive
Telophorus
olivaceus
23
719
Bush-shrike
Orange-breasted
Telophorus
sulfureopectus
24
155
Buzzard
Forest
Buteo
trizonatus
25
152
Buzzard
Jackal
Buteo
rufofuscus
26
144
Buzzard
Lizard
Kaupifalco
monogrammicus
27
154
Buzzard
Steppe
Buteo
vulpinus
28
627
Camaroptera
Green-backed
Camaroptera
brachyura
29
628
Camaroptera
Grey-backed
Camaroptera
brevicaudata
30
863
Canary
Brimstone
Crithagra
sulphuratus
31
857
Canary
Cape
Serinus
canicollis
32
866
Canary
Yellow
Crithagra
flaviventris
33
859
Canary
Yellow-fronted
Crithagra
mozambicus
34
570
Chat
Familiar
Cercomela
familiaris
35
647
Cisticola
Croaking
Cisticola
natalensis
36
648
Cisticola
Lazy
Cisticola
aberrans
37
646
Cisticola
Levaillant’s
Cisticola
tinniens
38
642
Cisticola
Rattling
Cisticola
chiniana
39
644
Cisticola
Red-faced
Cisticola
erythrops
40
639
Cisticola
Wailing
Cisticola
lais
41
629
Cisticola
Zitting
Cisticola
juncidis
42
212
Coot
Red-knobbed
Fulica
cristata
43
50
Cormorant
Reed
Phalacrocorax
africanus
44
4131
Coucal
Burchell’s
Centropus
burchellii
45
203
Crake
Black
Amaurornis
flavirostris
46
621
Crombec
Long-billed
Sylvietta
rufescens
47
522
Crow
Pied
Corvus
albus
48
341
Cuckoo
African
Cuculus
gularis
49
344
Cuckoo
Black
Cuculus
clamosus
50
352
Cuckoo
Diderick
Chrysococcyx
caprius
51
348
Cuckoo
Jacobin
Clamator
jacobinus
52
351
Cuckoo
Klaas’s
Chrysococcyx
klaas
53
347
Cuckoo
Levaillant’s
Clamator
levaillantii
54
343
Cuckoo
Red-chested
Cuculus
solitarius
55
513
Cuckoo-shrike
Black
Campephaga
flava
56
317
Dove
Laughing
Streptopelia
senegalensis
57
314
Dove
Red-eyed
Streptopelia
semitorquata
58
940
Dove
Rock
Columba
livia
59
319
Dove
Tambourine
Turtur
tympanistria
60
517
Drongo
Fork-tailed
Dicrurus
adsimilis
61
143
Eagle
African Crowned
Stephanoaetus
coronatus
62
138
Eagle
Long-crested
Lophaetus
occipitalis
63
134
Eagle
Tawny
Aquila
rapax
64
368
Eagle-owl
Spotted
Bubo
africanus
65
61
Egret
Cattle
Bubulcus
ibis
66
601
Eremomela
Burnt-necked
Eremomela
usticollis
67
114
Falcon
Lanner
Falco
biarmicus
68
833
Firefinch
African
Lagonosticta
rubricata
69
835
Firefinch
Jameson’s
Lagonosticta
rhodopareia
70
837
Firefinch
Red-billed
Lagonosticta
senegala
71
707
Fiscal
Common (Southern)
Lanius
collaris
72
149
Fish-eagle
African
Haliaeetus
vocifer
73
655
Flycatcher
African Dusky
Muscicapa
adusta
74
665
Flycatcher
Fiscal
Sigelus
silens
75
661
Flycatcher
Marico
Bradornis
mariquensis
76
662
Flycatcher
Pale
Bradornis
pallidus
77
664
Flycatcher
Southern Black
Melaenornis
pammelaina
78
654
Flycatcher
Spotted
Muscicapa
striata
79
174
Francolin
Crested
Dendroperdix
sephaena
80
177
Francolin
Shelley’s
Scleroptila
shelleyi
81
339
Go-away-bird
Grey
Corythaixoides
concolor
82
89
Goose
Egyptian
Alopochen
aegyptiacus
83
618
Grassbird
Cape
Sphenoeacus
afer
84
551
Greenbul
Sombre
Andropadus
importunus
85
550
Greenbul
Yellow-bellied
Chlorocichla
flaviventris
86
547
Greenbul
Yellow-streaked
Phyllastrephus
flavostriatus
87
192
Guineafowl
Helmeted
Numida
meleagris
88
72
Hamerkop
Hamerkop
Scopus
umbretta
89
171
Harrier-Hawk
African
Polyboroides
typus
90
141
Hawk-eagle
African
Aquila
spilogaster
91
55
Heron
Black-headed
Ardea
melanocephala
92
115
Hobby
Eurasian
Falco
subbuteo
93
440
Honeyguide
Greater
Indicator
indicator
94
442
Honeyguide
Lesser
Indicator
minor
95
441
Honeyguide
Scaly-throated
Indicator
variegatus
96
418
Hoopoe
African
Upupa
africana
97
426
Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed
Tockus
leucomelas
98
507
House-martin
Common
Delichon
urbicum
99
84
Ibis
Hadeda
Bostrychia
hagedash
100
849
Indigobird
Dusky
Vidua
funerea
101
851
Indigobird
Village
Vidua
chalybeata
102
123
Kestrel
Rock
Falco
rupicolus
103
402
Kingfisher
Brown-hooded
Halcyon
albiventris
104
130
Kite
Black-shouldered
Elanus
caeruleus
105
129
Kite
Yellow-billed
Milvus
aegyptius
106
458
Lark
Rufous-naped
Mirafra
africana
107
703
Longclaw
Cape
Macronyx
capensis
108
823
Mannikin
Bronze
Spermestes
cucullatus
109
506
Martin
Rock
Hirundo
fuligula
110
803
Masked-weaver
Southern
Ploceus
velatus
111
392
Mousebird
Red-faced
Urocolius
indicus
112
390
Mousebird
Speckled
Colius
striatus
113
734
Myna
Common
Acridotheres
tristis
114
637
Neddicky
Neddicky
Cisticola
fulvicapilla
115
373
Nightjar
Fiery-necked
Caprimulgus
pectoralis
116
372
Nightjar
Rufous-cheeked
Caprimulgus
rufigena
117
312
Olive-pigeon
African
Columba
arquatrix
118
521
Oriole
Black-headed
Oriolus
larvatus
119
359
Owl
Barn
Tyto
alba
120
748
Oxpecker
Red-billed
Buphagus
erythrorhynchus
121
387
Palm-swift
African
Cypsiurus
parvus
122
682
Paradise-flycatcher
African
Terpsiphone
viridis
123
852
Paradise-whydah
Long-tailed
Vidua
paradisaea
124
531
Penduline-tit
Cape
Anthoscopus
minutus
125
311
Pigeon
Speckled
Columba
guinea
126
692
Pipit
African
Anthus
cinnamomeus
127
699
Pipit
Bushveld
Anthus
caffer
128
10877
Pipit
Nicholson’s
Anthus
nicholsoni
129
696
Pipit
Striped
Anthus
lineiventris
130
650
Prinia
Black-chested
Prinia
flavicans
131
1049
Prinia
Drakensberg
Prinia
hypoxantha
132
649
Prinia
Tawny-flanked
Prinia
subflava
133
712
Puffback
Black-backed
Dryoscopus
cubla
134
830
Pytilia
Green-winged
Pytilia
melba
135
805
Quelea
Red-billed
Quelea
quelea
136
524
Raven
White-necked
Corvus
albicollis
137
603
Reed-warbler
Great
Acrocephalus
arundinaceus
138
589
Robin
White-starred
Pogonocichla
stellata
139
581
Robin-chat
Cape
Cossypha
caffra
140
579
Robin-chat
Red-capped
Cossypha
natalensis
141
580
Robin-chat
White-browed
Cossypha
heuglini
142
582
Robin-chat
White-throated
Cossypha
humeralis
143
412
Roller
European
Coracias
garrulus
144
511
Saw-wing
Black (Southern race)
Psalidoprocne
holomelaena
145
421
Scimitarbill
Common
Rhinopomastus
cyanomelas
146
586
Scrub-robin
Kalahari
Cercotrichas
paena
147
588
Scrub-robin
White-browed
Cercotrichas
leucophrys
148
867
Seedeater
Streaky-headed
Crithagra
gularis
149
711
Shrike
Crimson-breasted
Laniarius
atrococcineus
150
706
Shrike
Lesser Grey
Lanius
minor
151
708
Shrike
Red-backed
Lanius
collurio
152
146
Snake-eagle
Black-chested
Circaetus
pectoralis
153
786
Sparrow
Cape
Passer
melanurus
154
784
Sparrow
House
Passer
domesticus
155
4142
Sparrow
Southern Grey-headed
Passer
diffusus
156
780
Sparrow-weaver
White-browed
Plocepasser
mahali
157
159
Sparrowhawk
Black
Accipiter
melanoleucus
158
183
Spurfowl
Natal
Pternistis
natalensis
159
185
Spurfowl
Swainson’s
Pternistis
swainsonii
160
737
Starling
Cape Glossy
Lamprotornis
nitens
161
745
Starling
Red-winged
Onychognathus
morio
162
736
Starling
Violet-backed
Cinnyricinclus
leucogaster
163
576
Stonechat
African
Saxicola
torquatus
164
77
Stork
Woolly-necked
Ciconia
episcopus
165
772
Sunbird
Amethyst
Chalcomitra
amethystina
166
771
Sunbird
Collared
Hedydipna
collaris
167
758
Sunbird
Greater Double-collared
Cinnyris
afer
168
755
Sunbird
Marico
Cinnyris
mariquensis
169
760
Sunbird
Southern Double-collared
Cinnyris
chalybeus
170
763
Sunbird
White-bellied
Cinnyris
talatala
171
493
Swallow
Barn
Hirundo
rustica
172
502
Swallow
Greater Striped
Hirundo
cucullata
173
503
Swallow
Lesser Striped
Hirundo
abyssinica
174
498
Swallow
Pearl-breasted
Hirundo
dimidiata
175
495
Swallow
White-throated
Hirundo
albigularis
176
380
Swift
African Black
Apus
barbatus
177
383
Swift
White-rumped
Apus
caffer
178
715
Tchagra
Black-crowned
Tchagra
senegalus
179
714
Tchagra
Brown-crowned
Tchagra
australis
180
275
Thick-knee
Spotted
Burhinus
capensis
181
1104
Thrush
Karoo
Turdus
smithi
182
552
Thrush
Kurrichane
Turdus
libonyanus
183
437
Tinkerbird
Yellow-fronted
Pogoniulus
chrysoconus
184
527
Tit
Southern Black
Parus
niger
185
658
Tit-babbler
Chestnut-vented
Parisoma
subcaeruleum
186
393
Trogon
Narina
Apaloderma
narina
187
4133
Turaco
Knysna
Tauraco
corythaix
188
337
Turaco
Purple-crested
Gallirex
porphyreolophus
189
316
Turtle-dove
Cape
Streptopelia
capicola
190
686
Wagtail
Cape
Motacilla
capensis
191
610
Warbler
Barratt’s
Bradypterus
barratti
192
666
Warbler
Dark-capped Yellow
Chloropeta
natalensis
193
595
Warbler
Garden
Sylvia
borin
194
607
Warbler
Marsh
Acrocephalus
palustris
195
597
Warbler
Olive-tree
Hippolais
olivetorum
196
599
Warbler
Willow
Phylloscopus
trochilus
197
841
Waxbill
Black-faced
Estrilda
erythronotos
198
839
Waxbill
Blue
Uraeginthus
angolensis
199
843
Waxbill
Common
Estrilda
astrild
200
838
Waxbill
Orange-breasted
Amandava
subflava
201
825
Waxbill
Swee
Coccopygia
melanotis
202
840
Waxbill
Violet-eared
Granatina
granatina
203
799
Weaver
Cape
Ploceus
capensis
204
801
Weaver
Golden
Ploceus
xanthops
205
791
Weaver
Spectacled
Ploceus
ocularis
206
797
Weaver
Village
Ploceus
cucullatus
207
1172
White-eye
Cape
Zosterops
virens
208
846
Whydah
Pin-tailed
Vidua
macroura
209
847
Whydah
Shaft-tailed
Vidua
regia
210
813
Widowbird
Red-collared
Euplectes
ardens
211
814
Widowbird
White-winged
Euplectes
albonotatus
212
320
Wood-dove
Blue-spotted
Turtur
afer
213
321
Wood-dove
Emerald-spotted
Turtur
chalcospilos
214
419
Wood-hoopoe
Green
Phoeniculus
purpureus
215
362
Wood-owl
African
Strix
woodfordii
216
450
Woodpecker
Cardinal
Dendropicos
fuscescens
217
447
Woodpecker
Golden-tailed
Campethera
abingoni
218
452
Woodpecker
Olive
Dendropicos
griseocephalus
219
453
Wryneck
Red-throated
Jynx
ruficollis
First Forester in Woodbush
The Woodbush Forest is my prime forest birding spot here in Magoebaskloof. The book BETWEEN WOODBUSH AND WOLKBERG Googoo Thompson’s Story by B Wongtschowski, is the story of Googoo Thompsons life. Her father was the first forester assigned to the Woodbush Forest. I have extracted, verbatim, those aspects of Mr Arthur K. Eastwood’s life relating to his days as a forester in the Woodbush area of Magoebaskloof. for this post. The book is out of print.
Arrival at Haenertsburg and Early Life in the Woodbush
Woodbush Forest Home
“Upon our arrival in the afternoon at the Haenertsburg Hotel, we transferred from the coach to our donkey-cart which was waiting for us. We spent the night in Stanford’s Bush near the Fauconniers’ farm,Waterval. The cart, covered with tarpaulin, had an inside framework with riempies drawn across, which served as an excellent bed for Mother and Father. This was known by the Boers as a katel. I slept under the bucksail in the front part of the cart on a small stretcher that was folded up during the day. However, I often preferred simply to sleep under the wagon, as did Father.”
“Father’s main duty as Government Forestry Officer was to survey the rain forests of the Woodbush that were not owned by farmers, for transfer to the Department of Forestry. The South African Republic had granted so-called “Burgher Right” — and “Occupation-farms” in an attempt to control the movement of Blacks and settle the land. Those farms had already been surveyed. He had no jurisdiction over the indiscriminate felling of trees on such occupied land. However, there were patches of forest that were not owned by anyone and thus an area of about thirty five square miles was surveyed by him in about three years.”
“If you have a close look at the old photograph of our whole set-up you can also see a little wooden box on four white legs. This was a simple meteorological outfit, and next to this was a rain-gauge. Each day, at 8 a.m., minimum and maximum temperatures for the day were recorded, together with remarks describing the kind of clouds in the sky and whether or not it was misty. In Father’s absence, Mother had to do this little job. Coming from the top of Magoebaskloof, all these buildings were situated just before the turn-off to the Forest Drive that leads to the Debegeni Falls on the left-hand side, in a square which today boasts high cypress trees. These were originally planted by Mother and kept trimmed like a hedge.”
The First Woodcutters
“On several occasions we were told by Mr Brits about the Sekhukhune campaign and its connection with the first settlers in the Woodbush. On the 2nd of December 1879 the British Army under Sir Garnet Wolseley routed and captured the Pedi Paramount Chief. Sir Garnet used a big contingent of Swazi soldiers, together with the 94th regiment and the 13th Light Infantry from Perth. When the campaign was over, five soldiers from the 13th Light Infantry deserted and found shelter in the Woodbush. The names of these original five woodcutters were Woodward, Smith, Schnell, Ruthven and Taylor. They earned a living by felling timber which was badly required for railway sleepers, building houses and wagons. There was a great demand from the fast-growing town of Pretoria. The timber was also sold in Pietersburg and to a lesser extent on market days at Houtboschdorp.”
A few verses in Totius’s poem “Trekkersweé” seem to refer to our Woodbush.
“Die hout was geelhout wat gesaag
is in die Houtbosbergse kuil,
vandaar met moeite uitgedraag
en oral in die land verruil.”
“The word of untold timber resources soon spread as far afield as Knysna, and not long afterwards the village was teeming with oxwagons, sellers and buyers. These arrivals swelled the number of white settlers, who had to buy sugar and material for clothing, but otherwise managed to live entirely off the land. They shot bushpig, duiker, bush-buck, gathered wild spinach and grew mealies from which they cooked their porridge. They even made their own coffee from the husks of mealies.” “The first five woodcutters were soon followed by others who had heard about the beautiful yellowwood planks which had been offered on the market square in Pretoria and a sort of” Timber Rush” set in. A ruthless decimation of the forests took place between the years 1880 and 1890.
Sawing up the logs
“Apart from the giant Yellowwoods, Vaalbos, Bitter Almond (Waggon Wood), Black and White Iron Wood, Water Wood — used mainly for furniture — Stinkwood, Boekenhout, many other trees fell to the woodcutters’ axes. As soon as a tree was felled, it was marked and became the property of the woodcutter. It was reduced to boards by means of pitsaws. Two men operated these saws, one above the pit to draw the saw up and the other within the pit to draw the blade down. To ensure that the sawing was straight, a length of twine plucked like a violin string and when released it left an imprint of charcoal. The entire log was marked in this way and reduced to planks of 3 inches or l1/2 inches in thickness. Trees that were too hard for the sawblades to cut into boards were left to rot on the ground. This applied particularly to Iron Wcod”
Iron Wood fence posts
“Father helped to enforce the law that made the felling of young Iron Wood trees in the forest strictly forbidden. However, in 1910 Lionel Phillips wished to have his recently acquired farm, named “Broederstroom Stud Farm”, fenced into paddocks. It was specified in the contract that the straining posts of the fences were to be of Iron Wood with a minimum diameter of 9 inches at the base, tapering in diameter of 7 inches at the top. Father at this time was farming Clear Waters, after abandoning his work with the Forestry Department; in 1907, but being anxious to earn some extra money undertook the fencing job. He consulted old Mr Brits, who confirmed that there were indeed hundreds of unused felled Iron Wood the forest. Father thereupon sought and gained permission from Pretoria to split poles from felled trees in the Longbos near Broedstroom. Old Brits was promised sixpence for every pole that Father split. The trees had to be dug out literally from twenty years of mould and compost. After scraping away the cambrium layer, Father was able to obtain no less than 36 poles from the heart core of a single tree The mind boggles at the size of the trees which were doomed to rot by the greedy woodcutters. Some of the fencing poles Father erected still stand to this day. “
“At the end of 1906 Father took three months’ leave, which we spent on our newly acquired farm Broedersdrift. Before he left the Forestry Department, they sent up a man called Berry, who was a trained surveyor, to check on the work that Daddy had done. To our pride, he found that his work has been extremely accurate. Father was succeeded by the first qualified forester in the Woodbush, Charles Edward Lane-Poole,* who had trained at the French Forestry School at Nancy and had spent 1906 at the South African Forestry School at Tokai Mr Legat instructed Lane-Poole to plant gum trees in the open space between the indigenous Kiaat (Pterocarpus angolenses) in a forest on Middelkop, where the tea plantations are now. As an alternative Lane-Poole suggested young Pterocarpus or other indigenous trees like Bitter Almond, Yellowwood, Vaalbos or Essenhoutbos. It was a practice he had observed in Burma on a private visit before coming to South Africa; between the existing large Teaks young teak trees were planted, and in time the old ones were felled. In this way the young trees eventually took over and the forests were re-established. However, he had to do as he was told. His annual reports of 1907/08 and 1908/9 make fascinating reading. In 1910 a disagreement over introducing exotics brought Lane- Pool’s work with the Transvaal Forestry Department to an end. “
New Agatha Bat Hawk Nest Site
Where is the Bat hawk Nesting Site
Important notice: This nest has fallen down but efforts are being made to put a platform back in the original position.
The New Agatha Bat Hawk nest site is about a 30 minute drive from Magoebaskloof Birders Cottage. Google maps link https://goo.gl/maps/ Keep a look out for the SAFCOL Woodbush Plantation (Agatha) signboard. Turn right onto the dirt road. Drive under a avenue of massive gum trees then a gap and then a second avenue of gum trees. In the fifth tree of the second set of gum trees you will find the Bat Hawk nest first discovered in 1967.
The Bat Hawk nest is on a branch facing the opposite side of the road, about 25m up. Note the metal frame that underpins the nest.
Usually you will find one or both of the birds sitting quietly on a branch high up in one of the adjacent gum trees. Early morning and early evening will probably find the birds off on a hunt. Recently the birds have been reported to be roosting in the adjacent pine tree plantations!
History of the Bat Hawk Nest Site
The New Agatha Bat Hawks were first noticed by Dave Steyn in 1967 whilst collecting Eucalyptus seeds in the course of his work for the Department of Forestry. Over the next few years Archie van Reenen and Peter Williams noticed that the Bat Hawk nest was never completed. Even a slight wind would blow the nest down. Probably because gum trees have very smooth bark and they had chosen a very wide fork in the tree.
Frank van Reenen, Archie’s 10 year old son, was hauled up 25m to the branch in a mielie-meal bag. In the picture he can be seen attaching a platform of chicken wire to the branch. He was hauled up a second time to place some sticks that had previously fallen off the nest on the wire platform.
Within two days they continued building the nest and 1969 was the first year the birds had a successful breeding season. Bat Hawks have been breeding at the same site ever since.
Source: FOR THE LOVE OF BIRDS by ARCHIE VAN REENEN