With the holiday season upon us many of us are ready to spend some time relaxing. There is always the chance that boredom can set in and we start scrambling around for something to do.
If this is happening to you it might be time to start a hobby enjoyed by South Africans all over the country. Just take a look outside your garden at the multitude of birds that visit your residence every day.
A total of 856 different species of birds have been identified in South Africa according to Birdlife South Africa. While many of these birds are region-specific many of them can be seen our gardens and parks around the area of the South.
Bird watching can be a very accessible hobby for anyone interested in experiencing joys South Africa’s diverse ecology has to offer. All you need to start the hobby is your eyes and a reference list of birds in your area. A checklist is available from the Birdlife South Africa website and to assist you with identifying the birds free apps are available.
As you find the bird watching bug bighting you a few extras can be added to your repertoire to assist you in your adventures. A good pair of binoculars is a bird watcher’s best friend to help see the finer identification patterns as well as keep your distance from skittish birds.
A good bird book or birding app will help you further identify our feathery friends by giving you more information such as distribution and habits.
Bird watching is also a great way to explore South Africa as you scour the many beautiful national parks we have in your search for some of the more elusive species. So take a moment to look around your garden and see how many birds you can identify.
What to look for when trying to identify birds:
1. Look at its size and build. Birds come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from the tiny waxbills which are around 10cm in size to the giant storks which can reach sizes of a meter and a half. The bird’s size can be a good indication of what species it is.
2. Colours and markings. Birds are some of the brightest animals on the planet and most species are unique in their colouration and patterns. Based on their colours you can distinguish the species from those closely related.
3. Look at its habits. Try to see what it eats and how it is behaving. Certain birds have mostly seen perching while others forage on the ground and swifts are mostly seen on the wing.
4. Have a listen. Birds are known for their song and the sounds help identify the birds around you even when you can’t see where it is.
