Namaqua Dove

Scientific name Oena capensis Afrikaans name Namakwaduifie.

- Koos Pieters

From the time that I first became involved in the lifestyle of birdwatching, I have (rightly or wrongly) associated certain birds with certain parts of the country. I call it a lifestyle because I find that over time, I have unwittingly adapted my day-to-day planning as well as decisions around events such as annual holidays, to accommodate the contagious hobby of birdwatching.

Not from the point of view of just ticking birds on my list, but rather to locate and observe them, and to enjoy the inexpressible pleasure of tracking down certain birds in particular areas.

So, while some birds can be seen in several other places as well, I have come to expect to see them in certain areas (or maybe see them in greater numbers) as if they belong there.

Take the Martial Eagle, for instance. Look in your bird guide, and you will find that it supposedly appears all over the sub-continent; but if people asked me where to look for it, I would not hesitate to direct them to the arid parts of the Northern Cape and to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in particular. The same goes for the Pale Chanting Goshawk.