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Meet our latest bodyguards a first for the Endangered Wildlife Trust. These four alpacas have been placed on farms in the Northern Cape to protect sheep from jackal, caracal and brown hyena conflict. Marion’s Owl Award Marion Mengell, synonymous with Friends of Nylsvley (FoN), was the worthy recipient of a BirdLife SA Owl Award in October 2016. Congratulations Marion, we are very proud to be associated with FoN. 14 | <strong>Bokmakierie</strong> December 2016 No 247
Bubo The Eagle Owl By Alf Craul Eyebrows rake upwards to end in tufted ears. A regal face belies savage intent, hidden in the gaze of round obsidian eyes. Night stealthily descends to rest on the gnarled branches of the Mamuti tree, standing sentinel on the river bank. Like a drug, the oppressive heat bonds with the pulsating sound of the Cicada bugs. The haunting call of a Rail splits the night air. Bubo replies, “Hok-Hok-Hok” …a warning grunt, as if to say…”I am here!” Pink eyelids, macabre in this setting, blink a warning signal. An indistinct sound from below causes his body to elongate, as he stretches in anticipation. Fearsome yellow-brown talons, in sharp contrast to white feathered legs, grip the branch a little tighter. Like a trapeze artist preparing to leap. Oblivious to the danger above, a mongoose hunts. A careless step, on a dry Mopane leaf, announces its presence and signals its death. Bubo’s head slowly turns , eyes and ears focused on the prey. A Nightjar calls, “Good Lord deliver us!” ….. On silent wings, with razor sharp talons spread wide, Bubo swiftly swoops in for the kill. In a beating of wings on Mopane scrub, a dust cloud rising from dry thirsty ground, the mongoose perishes without a sound. The bushveld is silent, nothing moves. Death has arrived! The Mamuti tree watches silently as a giant beak ferociously tears flesh from bone. Satiated, Bubo reverts to his motionless, sentry state. Ear tufts erect. Maybe tomorrow an errant guinea fowl will cross his path … Once again the nightjar sings! Verreaux’s Eagle Owl (Bubo lacteus) - photo by Warwick Tarboton <strong>Bokmakierie</strong> December 2016 No 247 | 15
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Page 5 and 6: Durban Pelagic - October 2016 Text
Page 7 and 8: came in later (although not so clos
Page 9 and 10: In this way aspects of the life his
Page 11 and 12: CONCLUSION Catching birds with mist
Page 13: Diana has been placed on a farm wit
Page 17 and 18: The waters stretched as far as one
Page 19 and 20: this land in exchange for the islan
Page 21 and 22: Polokwane Nature Reserve: WBC Trip
Page 23 and 24: It got quite chilly and rained that
Page 25 and 26: Darrel at work friend of the Courta
Page 27 and 28: A message from John Freer: Darrel P
Page 29 and 30: Bushbuck of the river when a lovely
Page 31 and 32: One such report involved 200 dead C
Page 33 and 34: Since leaving the Malayan Federatio
Page 35 and 36: The QM2 sailed overnight to Langkaw
Page 37 and 38: given a warm round of applause by t
Page 39 and 40: Rock Kestrel I was standing still l
Page 41 and 42: The new study confirms the suspicio
Page 43 and 44: Rarities and Unusual Sightings Repo
Page 45 and 46: 2540_2810 on 20 Aug 2016; the recor
Page 47: 2016 Calendar Competition Entries L

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