Birdlife in our village (6)

During the past six months Philip van den Berg (U34) has enlightened us about the birdlife in our village. He is an acclaimed environmentalist and wildlife photographer.

This month he has provided us with text and pictures about an iconic bird of the bushveld, the Grey Go-away Bird (Afr. Kwêvoël), the last in the series.

PHILIP VAN DEN BERG writes: Everyone visiting or living in the bushveld will be well acquainted with the loud and nasal ‘waaaaay’ or ‘kay-waaaay’ call of Grey Go-away Birds, hence the name. Their call also includes various yowls, shrieks and grunts.  One particular high-pitched call that they utter when suspecting danger, serves as a warning, upon which all mammals and birds within hearing distance will take cover immediately. For this reason they are not favoured by many hunters.

These large and plain grey birds are easily seen as they move around in bushes with great agility or perch on exposed branches in pairs or small groups. They are sometimes seen on the ground when fruit or flowers are available. They are alert and inquisitive and lower or raise their crests when alarmed. At night they roost in groups of 3 to 5 birds higher up in trees.

The Grey Go-away Bird raises its crest when alarmed or ...

... lowers it

Grey Go-away Birds favour acacia savanna and arid woodland. They are widespread and have extended their range. When I was a student in Pretoria in the 1960s there were no Grey Go-away Birds in the urban areas of Gauteng. At present, however, they are fairly common city dwellers.

Grey Go-away Birds are opportunistic feeders that feed on fruit, flowers, nectar, buds, fresh new growth, seeds and also insects and some smaller vertebrates such as nestlings.

Feeding

Although their flight appears rather laboured, they can fly fairly long distances to good food sources.

They build their rather flimsy nests higher up in dense or thorny vegetation. The clutch consists of 2 to 3 eggs and the chicks are fed by both parents and sometimes a helper.

Bathing