When birds breed is closely linked to food supply and to timing the breeding attempt so that when the young hatch there’s enough food to raise a brood of chicks to independence. For most species, for example insectivores like thrushes and robin-chats, insects are most plentiful in summer so it is in summer that these birds breed. In their case, the breeding cycle generally takes a month from egg-laying to the young fledging, and timing egg-laying to ensure that there is food on the table when the chicks are growing and later, when they fledge, is the key to their success. And if the timing is right, newly fledged and inexperienced young birds also have the best chance of finding food for themselves and gaining independence.
This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of African Birdlife.
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This story is from the July/August 2023 edition of African Birdlife.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS
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as summer becomes a memory in the south, the skies are a little quieter as the migrants have returned to the warming north. But one bird endemic to the southern African region takes its own little winter journey.
when perfect isn't enough
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The late summer period naturally started quietening down after the midsummer excitement, but there were still some classy rarities on offer for birders all over the subregion. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
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One of the features of a warming planet is increasingly erratic rainfall; years of drought followed by devastating floods. Fortunately, many waterbirds are pre-adapted to cope with such extremes, especially in southern Africa where they have evolved to exploit episodic rainfall events in semi-arid and arid regions. But how do waterbirds respond to floods in areas where rainfall - and access to water - is more predictable? Peter Ryan explores the consequences of recent floods on the birds of the Western Cape's Olifants River valley.
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