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WILDLIFEREPORT SINGITASABISAND,SOUTHAFRICA ForthemonthofJanuary,TwoThousandandSixteen Temperatures RainfallRecorded Sunrise&Sunset Averageminimum: 20.6˚C (69˚F) Forthemonth: 109.2mm Sunrise 05:31 Averagemaximum: 32.5˚C (90.5˚F) Fortheseasontodate: 282.4mm Sunset 18:43 Minimumrecorded: 18◦C (64.4˚F) Maximumrecorded:42˚C (107.6˚F) Raindrenchedthedryearthduringtheeveningonafewoccasionsandthegreenflushisevidentthroughout thearea.ThedrainagelinesleadingdowntotheSandRiverarestilldry,howeverthevegetationisinfull revivalmode. Here'sahighlightspackageofthemonth'ssightings: Lions: Averyinterestinginteractionoccurredrecentlybetweentwooftheprominentpridesinthearea.Afight betweenthepridefemaleswasbriefduetotheMajingalanemalelionssoonresolvingtheheightened tension.Whatmadethissightingevenmoreinterestingwasthattwoofthemalelionswereshowingan investedinterestofcourtingalionessfromeitherprideandthiswasveryunusualtowatch. Leopards: Excitingnews.TheHukumurifemaleleopardinthenorthwasfoundinthenorthwithtwocubs.Tracksofthe femalealongwithhertwocubswerereportedafewweeksagoanditseemsthatthetrioaremovingmuch moreasthecubsarenowfeedingonthecarcassesalongwiththeirmother. Buffaloes: Theherdsofbuffalohavebeensmallerincomparisontothepreviousmonth.Alargenumberofsmaller groupsofbuffalobullshavebeenseennorthoftheriver. Elephants: Aftertherecentrain,largernumbersofelephantshavebeenseenregularly.Oneofthesightingswas recordedwithwellover50elephantsintheherd.Thelargemovementoftheherdshavecreatedsomevery interestingsightingsduringbreakfastandlunchtime,fromthelodgedecksoverlookingtheSandRiver. Alesser-knownspottedcat ArticlebyMichelleCampbell Wedrovesouthonehotafternooninsearchofarareandwonderfulcheetah,andwereover-joyedwhen quiteearlyon,wecomeacrossacurledupballofgolden,blackspottedfluff,takingshadeunderabush. Uponhearingthevehicle,theanimalputitsheadup,anditshugeroundedearstoldusinstantlythatthiswas nocheetah!Wehadinfactcomeacrossaserval. Aslender,long-leggedspottedcat,theservalhascharacteristiclarge,roundedears,thelargestearsinfact, proportionaltoitsbodysize,ofanyAfricancat.Althoughoftenthoughttobenocturnal,thissolitaryanimal leadsacrepuscularlifestyle,meaningthatitismostactiveduringthecoolerdaylighthours,aroundduskand dawn.Theplacementandsizeofthespotsandstripesvariesfromoneindividualtothenext,andthose servalsthatarefoundingrasslandhabitatstendtohavelargerblackspotsthanthosefoundinmoreforested areastoensuretheyarewell-camouflagedintotheirsurroundings. Exceptionallyquickandagile,servalscapturemostoftheirpreybyjumpinghighandpouncing,withtheirlong legsenablingthemtoseeoverthegrass.Althoughservalseatavarietyofdifferentprey,nearly94%oftheir dietiscomprisedofsmallrodentssuchasrats,miceandshrews,whichmeansthattheyplayavitalrolein theirlocaleco-systemskeepingrodentnumbersdown.Theirlargedish-likeearsallowthemtosensethe vibrationsofrodentsthatareevenundergroundandoncedetectedtheservalwilldigitspreyoutusingits sharpclaws.Oneofmycolleaguesoncesawaservalkillingalargepuff-adderatabout9o’clockinthe morning. Withoutcovertohide,andnotobservedtouseholestoburrowin,servalsarevulnerabletolargerpredators, especiallyleopards,hyenasandwilddogs. Thephysicalthreatextendsfurtherthanjustpredation,however,withthelargerpredatorsalsooutcompetingthemforbothfoodandterritories,explainingcertainlyinthisareawhyweseerelativelyfew servals.ThebiggestthreattoservalsthroughoutAfricahowever,ispeoplethatkillthemfortheirfur,whichis highlysoughtafter,particularlyamongtribesinWestAfrica.Althoughtheservalisnotconsideredtobeat anygreatriskinthewild,theyarebeingsubjectedtoincreasinglevelsofthelossoftheirhabitats,whichhas ledtopopulationdeclinesincertainareas. Hornbills ArticlebyGrantPengilly Whilenotsucha“highprofile”speciesasacheetah,Ifeltveryfortunatetohaveseenthisserval,andtohave beenabletosharetheexperiencewithguests! Thisisatimeofabundanceinthebush.Impala lambs,warthogpiglets,fruitingmarulatrees andthearrivalofvariousmigratorybirds.There isalsoatouchofromanceintheair,especially amongstthebirds.Courtshipdisplaysabound intheirmanydifferentforms.Duetcalls,the colourfulflightdisplayofthelilacbreasted rollers,thepersistentshrillingcallofwoodland kingfishersandthehop-flappingconstantchirpchasingofthemalepin-tailedwhydahs.Certain speciesofbirdsneedtobuildupatrusting relationshipwiththeirchosenpartnerbefore courtshipandegg-layingcantakeplace. Thehornbillsareacommonsightforvisitorstothelowveldatanytimeoftheyear.Theyarealways entertainingtowatch,withtheconfusedlookofacrazedscientistastheyscratcharoundlookingforanytype oftastymorsel,fromfruitstoinsectsandevenscorpionsandsmallmammals.Theremarkablenesting strategyexhibitedbythesebirdsrequiresahugeinvestmentofdependencebythefemaleonherchosen suitor.Bylockingherselfintoanaturalcavityinatreeandpluckinghertailandflightfeatherstolinethenest, sheputsherselfatthemercyofhermatebyrelyingfullyonhimtobringfoodtothenesttofeedherandthe chicks.Failuretofulfilhisrolewouldresultindeathbystarvationforthefemaleandherbrood. Suchtrustisbuiltupbyconstantlavishcourtshipdisplaysbetweenthepair.Muchlikeus,themalewill present‘nuptialgifts’tothefemaletoreassureherofhiscapabilitiesasabreadwinner.Theusualgiftsare fooditemssuchasinsects,maybeafatjuicygrasshopperorchubbycaterpillar.Thisparticularyellow-billed hornbillobviouslywantedtobesomethingmorethanusual,andtookitonestepfurther,maybetoofar.We hadtotakeasecondlookwhenwecameacrossthisambitiousavianindividualwithhisaboveaverage generosity.Hetriedhisbest,butalargeflapneckedchameleonwasabitonthebeefysideforhim!Hetried afewdifferentholdsonitbutcouldn’tseemtogetcomfortableenoughtoflywhilecarryingthelifeless reptile.Heeventuallydroppeditandflewoff,possiblyinsearchofsomethingmorefeasible.Hopefullyhis effortspaidoff,andhewonoverhisladyfortheseason. TheAfricanhawk-eagle ArticlebyDanielleKueck Eaglesareoneofthemoreprominentbirdtypesthatstandoutformostofourguests,withawiderange occurringinthisarea.Somespeciesaremigratoryandleavetheareainourwintertimeinsearchofwarmer climatesandmorefood.Therearehoweverafairfewwhichstayallyearround.Oneofthesespecieswould betheAfricanhawk-eagle.I'mmakingamentionofthiseagleinparticularbecauseyouaremorethanlikely toseethisspecieshereintheSabiSand,oreveninKrugerNationalParkforthatmatter.Therearearound 1600pairsoccurringinSouthAfricaandthemajorityofthosepairsoccurinTheKrugerNationalParkand surroundingconservationareas,liketheSabiSand. Youwilltypicallyseethemintheirmonogamouspairs,soaringoverheadwhilstoutonadrive.Theyhave whiteunderpartswithabitofblackstreaking.Theirdietismostlygamebirds,suchasguineafowland francolins(butwillalsosometimeseatsmallermammalssuchassquirrels,mongooseandhares),andhave beenknowntoevenhunttogether.Theyarealsoveryterritorialandutilisetheirsamenestevery2-3years. Boththemaleandfemaleareresponsiblefortheconstruction/rebuildingofthemetre-widenest.Whenit's thematingseason,themalehastorekindlethe'romance'betweenthetwo,whichhedoesbyperformingan elaboratedisplayaroundthenestintheskywithundulatingdivesatthefemale,andlaterturnspresentinghis claws,followedbybringingheramealwhichshewilleatbeforethematinghappens. Ihaveneverpersonallywitnessedthisbehaviorwhilstoutondrivewithmyguests,butitisjustanother situationthatIhaveaddedtomylistofthingsthatIcannotwaittoexperienceandshareonedaywithmy guests.Thislistiswhatmakeseverydriveexciting,neverknowingwhatamorningoranafternoondrivein thisunpredictableenvironmenthasinstoreforus. Afewofmyfavouritetrees "Raindropsonrosesandwhiskersonkittens; ArticlebyLeonVanWyk Brightcopperkettlesandwarmwoollenmittens; Brownpaperpackagestiedupwithstrings; Theseareafewofmyfavouritethings!" Whowouldnotwanttosingorhumalongtothiscatchytunefromthatgrandoldclassic"TheSoundof Music"?Well,strangeasitsounds,itisthetitleofthatsongthathasinspiredmetowritethislittlearticleon afewofmyfavouritetrees.Ihavealwaysbeenfondoftrees,andsomeofmyfavouritesinthisareawill featureinthetextandimagesbelow. Leadwood(Combretumimberbe) Believedtoliveforseveralhundredyears,leadwoodsareextremelyslowgrowing,dense-woodedtrees, whosetimberissohardthateventermiteshavenoimpactonit.Oncealeadwoodhasdied,itwillcontinueto standformanydecades,andtome,thesightofareallyold,deadleadwoodisoneofindescribablebeauty. Likeasilversculptureagainstadazzlingbluesky,adeadleadwoodjustoozessomuchcharacterinitsgnarled trunk,andhasanauraofpermanenceandstabilityaboutit,which(forme)linksitinastrangewaytoalarge oldelephantbull.Therearenumerousdozensofmagnificentlivingleadwoodsonthispropertytoo,and manyofthemgrowingrovesfairlyclosetoeachother,particularlyinareasofdark,heavyclaysoil.Because therearefrequentlymudwallowsveryclosetotheseleadwoods,anumberofthemappeartohavethe bottomfewmetresoftheirtrunkspaintedwithathicklayerofaverydarkbrownplaster.This,ofcourse,is fromthewallowingormud-bathinganimals(specificallyelephant,rhino,buffaloandwarthog)which,after coveringtheirhideswithliquidmudfromthewallowingpits,goandhaveagoodrubagainsttheinvitingly roughbarkonthesturdytrunksoftheleadwoodtreesthataresoconvenientlypositionednearby! Atthistimeoftheyear,thelivingleadwoodsarealsoveryattractive,becausetheyareflowering.NowImust hastentoaddthattheindividualflowersarebynomeansspectacular,butwhenviewedfromsomedistance, aleadwoodladenwiththousandsoftheselittleflowerstakesonagorgeousgoldenhue,particularlywhenthe lightisjustright.BeingaCombretum,thefruitthatdevelopsfromtheflowersofaleadwoodisacharacteristic 4-wingedseedpod. Jackalberry(Diospyrosmespiliformes) AlsoknownasaLowveldebony,TransvaalebonyorAfricanebony,thejackalberryisamagnificent,verydarktrunkedtreethatisfoundinabundanceintheSabiSand,particularlyalongthebanksofsomeofthe prominentwatercourses,suchastheSandRiver.Jackalberrytreesareverypopularwithleopards,astheyare comfortable,easytoclimb,offeragoodamountofshadeandnumerouslimbsthatareoftenatvery convenientanglesonwhichtolie,oroverwhichtodrapecarcassesofpreyanimalsthattheyhavekilled. Jackalberriesarealmostevergreen,eachtreelosingitsleavesforjustafewweeks,usuallyinmiddleorlate spring.Beforetheleavesfalloffthetree,theyturnyellow.Thenewleavesthatreplacethemintwoorthree weeksarereddishbrown.Becausethetreesdonotalllosetheirleavesatexactlythesametime,onecan encounter3jackalberriesincloseproximity,withspectacularlydifferentcolouredfoliage-one,arichgreen, oneyellowandonereddish-brown. Inlatespringandearlysummer,thejackalberriesbeartheirfruit.Thesearein theformofsmall,olivetokhakicolouredberries,withathinhuskyshell, palatablepulpandafewpea-sized(butkidney-shaped)darkseeds.Tasty enoughforhumanstoenjoy,thefruitsareagreatfoodsourcetobirdssuchas greenpigeons,purple-crestedturacos,brown-headedparrots,starlingsand severalmore,aswellasmammals,particularlymonkeys,baboons,jackalsanda fewdifferentantelope.Civetsalsoenjoythem,whichisclearlyevidentwhen oneinspectsthecontentsofcivetdungmiddens(knownascivetries!) Marula(Sclerocaryabirrea)Itisprobablyveryappropriatetoincludethemarula treeinthismonth'sjournal,becausenowisthetimethattheseattractivetrees beartheirhighlysought-afterfruits(picturedhere)ingreatquantities. Maleandfemalemarulaflowersareborneonseparatetrees,anditisonlythefemaletreesthatbearfruit. Thetreesthemselvesarequiteeasytorecognise,astheyhavegrey,blotchybark,eachtreegivingthe appearancethatithasbeenstruckbyathousandgolfballs.Thelimbsoftheserathersmoothtreesendin blunt-tippedorstubbybranches,andthecolouroftheleavesisalmostagreyish-green.Thefruitsthemselves canbelikenedtominiaturegreenmangos,astheyalsohaveasmoothgreenskin,withastickysapthatoozes fromanydamagedsurface.Thelarge,hardstoneiscoveredbyadisappointinglythinlayerofthemost delicious,juicy,greyish-white"flesh",whichhassuchawidecombinationoffruityflavours,beingbothsour andsweet,andreminiscentsometimesoflitchis,apricots,mangosandevenoranges. Theyreallyarewonderfultoeat,although perhaps"eat"isnottherightwordto describehowhumansconsumethem.One doesn'treallytakeabiteoutofthefruit andchewit...itismoreacaseofpopping thefruitoutofitsskin,andsuckingthe flavoursomejuicesoffthestone. Elephantsarefamousfortheirloveofthe marulafruits,whichripenontheground aftertheyhavefallenoffthetrees. Itisnotunusualtoseeanelephantspend overanhourunderneathamarulatreein February,pickingupfruits,sometimes singly,sometimesintwosandthrees,and tossthemintoitsmouth. Theyoftenpassthroughtheelephantalmostintact,withtheskinsjustslightlyruptured.Squirrelsfrequently scratcharoundinpilesofelephantdungtofeedonthe"second-hand"marulafruits,whichtheypickupand deftlymanipulatebetweentheirhand-likefrontpaws. Manyothermammalspeciesrelishthemarulafruits,amongthembeingbaboons,monkeys,kudu,impala, zebraandwarthog.Itisthislast-namedcreature,thewarthog,whichgivesmegreatpleasurewhenIwatch themeatingthemarulas,becausetheydoitwithsuchobviousandgreatenjoyment,delightandgusto! Liketheleadwoodandthejackalberry,themarulatreeisalsoaverypopularonewithleopards,anditisnot unusualtofindaleopardrestinginamarulatree,withorwithoutakillhoistedupthesametree. Marulatreesarealsofrequentlyfoundingroves,ratherthanjustsingly,andtheyfavourthesandycrests, ratherthantheclaysoilsandlower-lyingareas.Manymarulatreeshavehadbigchunksofbarkandcambium removedfromthembyelephants,asitisnotonlythefruitthattheyelephantsenjoy.Theylovethecambium, theyalsofeedheavilyontheroots,youngbranchesandleavesofthemarulatree.Elephantshaveahuge impactonthevegetationinanyareawhichtheyinhabit,but,althoughIamagreatloveroftrees,Idonot viewthisimpactinanegativelight.Certainly,individualtreeswillbeseverelydamagedandevendestroyed byelephants,butfortunatelythreearemanythousandsofmarulatrees,andinsomewaysthethinningoutof woodyvegetationbyelephantsdoeshaveanoverallpositiveimpactonthebioticcommunity. SothethreetreespeciesthatIhavementionedinthisarticlearejustsomeofmyfavouritesofthearea.Over thenextfewmonths,wewillhavealookatafewmore.Ihopeandbelievethatmostreaderswillfindthe articlesinteresting,andwillcontinuetoappreciatetreesforwhattheyare,fortheirgreatbeauty,fortheir valueasfoodandfuel,andfortheshelterandsecuritythattheyoffer. Bird list: 242 species recorded (236 in December) Specials of the month were the Blue-cheeked bee-eater, the carmine bee-eater and an African Snipe. GameViewingSummary No.ofSightings Lion Leopard Cheetah Elephant Buffalo WildDog Hyena January2015 71 69 12 89 49 6 10 January2016 98 76 7 166 64 4 42 PredatorAnalysis No.of Sightings Impala Leopard 12 Kudu Grey Duiker Buffalo WaterBuck 2 1 Vervet Warthog Monkey Warthog 2 1 Total 17 Lion 1 5 1 1 Cheetah 1 8 1 WildDog 1 Hyena 1 Total 14 4 1 5 1 2 1 1 1 1 28 Photographsonlocationby RossCouper,GrantPengilly, MichelleCampbelland LeonvanWyk SingitaEbonyandBouldersLodge SabiSand SouthAfrica Thirty-firstofJanuary2016