Winter is in full swing here on the Greater Mabula Private Game Reserve, and the fresh cold mornings and spectacular sunrises are something I cherish during this season. The vegetation has somewhat thinned out, and the brown hues of the bush lead to some spectacular sightings. The dusty roads and game paths have also provided some really great tracking opportunities.
Although most migratory birds have left, the gold hues of winter provide some amazing shades for photographing birds, and my personal favourite this time of the year is the lilac-breasted roller which stays on the reserve all year round.
The reserve is also home to almost 350 bird species and including two of the so called big six birds, being southern ground hornbill and martial eagle. Saddle-billed stork we see them ocationally, they are more visitors on the reserve. With different types of veld we have on the reserve, we have an opportunity to see different types of birds.
During summer birders are spoilt for choice as the bush is alive with the calls of so many different birds, while in winter the drier bush and sparse vegetation makes for spectacular sightings. Normally in winter we see very few birds however this winter we are spoiled with good sightings.
Birds have successfully occupied most parts of the world yet many people remain largely unaware of their diversity and overall importance to the balance of nature. As part of Safari Plains’ holistic safari experience we offer safaris that only specialize with birds, guests who loves birds can enjoy these safaris just watching birds, our guides will whet your appetite and provide you with some information on fascinating birds birds found on the reserve.
We found these guineafowls while on afternoon safari. We had been searching for cheetah coalition majority of the afternoon when finally these guineafowls erupted into frantic alarm calls next to our vehicle giving alarm call, they might have seen a predator that have move away after they heard our vehicle.
Southern ground hornbills are always special to see. We were very lucky to find this one at Charles Glass plain foraging and looking for something to eat on the dung. We are very fortunate to have ground hornbill project on the reserve. This gives us and our gueststo learn and enjoy magnificent sightings of these special birds.
Two pied kingfishers were perched on a tree at main dam, one a dead tree and one on a silver cluster leave tree. We were en route to find a spot to enjoy an evening drink to watch the sunset but got distracted for a short while by this bird. Their long bills make them ideal candidates for silhouette photographs, just giving them more of an interesting shape.
We were very lucky to see more than one. Main dam and Hunters dam are popular dams to see pied kingfishers, we often find giant kingfishers on these dams.
Several birds can easily catch the eye with their amazing plumage; especially in the summertime when local species don their breeding feathers and the migratory ones return from further north. The European bee-eaters are certainly one of the more striking with their pastel shades of emerald, yellow and brown.
Coming around the corner to an open field, one can almost predict that there will be a lone wildebeest bull standing tall, with their long face held high as you approach closer. One of the more familiar spots is along the open grounds of the Long Winding, Rainmeter plains, Mvubu plains, Ngorongoro plain and observing this lone figure inevitably prompts the question.
Why is that wildebeest alone?’ More recently however the site of the lone wildebeest bull and the separately gathered herds prompted one of my guests to ask: ‘Does this mean there are fewer males in the population?’ The solitary nature of wildebeest bulls is often attributed to their territorial behaviour. In many ecosystems, male wildebeests will fiercely defend their territories, marking them with their scent and engaging in vocal displays to deter opposing intruders.
This territorial behaviour serves to establish dominance and secure mating opportunities during the breeding season. In the instance of the lone wildebeest on the long winding, some would say he is securing a prime piece of real estate that provides a productive grazing area, nearby water at main dam, and thickets to take shelter and to lure in potential mating opportunities.
Consequently, once you have observed the larger, tightly knit female herds one may perceive an apparent imbalance between males and females. However, this can be a misleading impression of unequal distribution, as the solitary nature of male wildebeests primarily stems from their territorial instincts rather than indicating a scarcity of males within the population.
The distribution of males and females in wild animal populations is not random but rather intricately balanced through evolutionary, ecological, and behavioural mechanisms. One such mechanism is the sex ratio of offspring is determined by the relative investment of parents in producing each sex. In species where females invest more in reproduction, such as many mammals, there tends to be a slightly skewed sex ratio, with more females than males.
Female wildebeest invest significant energy in carrying and giving birth to calves, as well as nursing and protecting them. In contrast, male wildebeest contribute primarily to mating efforts. Species like wildebeest where females invest more in reproduction, there will likely be a skewed sex ratio, with more females than males. This ensures that the reproductive effort of females is optimised, contributing to the overall reproductive success of the species.
So next time you come across a lone bull, whether it be a wildebeest or elephant, remember that there is more to their solitary stance. While superficial observations may suggest unequal distributions of males and females, a deeper understanding reveals the intricacies of the evolutionary, biological mechanisms and social dynamics at play that maintain the delicate balance of gender ratios.
The afternoon safaris are ends with incredible sunsets and the golden hour is something that cannot be quite explained.
Until next time…
From Isaiah Banda & Mabula family.
Safari Greetings.