Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Pygmy Kingfisher
The riches of Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve explained by Glenwood resident and chair of the Friends of Pigeon Valley.
This is the 14th article in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article will be on the Pygmy Kingfisher.
Catching sight of a little bird perching quietly in the dusk by a bird bath the other evening, I realised that this is one of the two seasons of the year where migrating Pygmy Kingfishers pass through Pigeon Valley. The other is September to October. These are truly beautiful birds, tiny except for their exaggerated bills.
The name may confuse people; like several other Kingfisher species they seldom eat fish at all. Their diet is mainly made up of insects and spiders. Their preferred means of bathing is a plunge, rather like the African Paradise-Flycatcher.
ALSO READ: Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Cape Honeysuckle
Pigeon Valley often has the calls of the Brown-hooded Kingfisher and occasionally we have had sightings of the uncommon Mangrove Kingfisher, also on their migrations. At some point we would like to create a bank in which the local Kingfisher and Bee-Eater populations can nest.
Crispin Hemson chairs the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a group that undertakes clearing of alien plants, keeps records of bird and mammal sightings and alerts management to any problems.
The Friends have a monthly walk at 7.30am on the second Saturday of each month. Email: friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com.
