Come spring, West Coast National Park is a safe haven for many migratory birds that chase the sun.
Let’s put ourselves into the shoes, or rather the feathers, of one of our winged friends for a minute. As a tiny shorebird or wader, you spend your long summer days in the northern hemisphere, foraging around a large intertidal mudflat or tundra marsh, feeding your newly hatched chick and yourself on the riches of the summer season. Slowly the days begin to shorten and you frantically fatten up both yourself and your young, in preparation for a long trip.
When the timing feels right, you and many others of your species take to the wing and cross mountains and oceans, flying around deserts and over great rainforests, as you chase the sun. This journey, however, is fraught with dangers such as the illegal hunters and netters out to trap small birds, plus the loss of key areas of habitat that help you complete the arduous journey. Some species increase their body mass by up to 35 per cent before embarking on this journey. Try doing that before your next trail run!
Denne historien er fra Spring 2017-utgaven av Wild Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2017-utgaven av Wild Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Seeds of success
A champion at the indigenous nursery at Skukuza, Meurel Baloyi is on a mission to make all the rest camp gardens in Kruger water-wise.
Six of the best
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park guarantees visitors a solid serving of adventure, often with a dash of adrenalin on the side. The rugged mountain desert now boasts even more outdoor activities.
Marvellous meerkats of Mata-Mata
Brace yourself to be welcomed suricate-style the next time you pitch camp at this ever-popular spot in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Who's who?
Even regular park-goers struggle to distinguish a rhebok from a reedbuck. The differences are subtle but significant.
Friends of the fluffball
White-fronted plovers breed in summer – the same time many people take their seaside holiday. A significant decline in their numbers means life is hardly ‘a day at the beach’ for these birds
Festive Karoo
On a Christmas holiday in the Karoo, a keen birder and his family soak up the heat in four Wild Card parks. Their reward included special sightings, endless views and a wilderness feeling.
Love struck
A leopard mating ritual is a rare and thrilling sight. Even more extraordinary to witness an amorous affair involving three members of this elusive Big Five species in Kruger.
Challenge the clock
For centuries Table Mountain National Park has inspired exploration, from hardcore climbing to gentle walks. Now runners and hikers can set a record or push boundaries for a personal best on an epic adventure to the top of 13 peaks.
Loud and clear
Woodland kingfishers are common in most rest camps in the Kruger National Park. Enjoy their evocative call during the summer months.
BEACH MODELS
Rocky shores and sandy beaches are where you’ll find the African black oystercatcher. Summer is breeding season, so look out for nest scrapes close to rocks and kelp.
