Glen Publisher_Dainfern In Focus_Issue 0717

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after tasting this substance. The sharp spines are also a deterrent and few animals eat these crickets, although the Kori Bustard and Bat Eared Foxes seem to like them. NATURE NEWS by Wim Spronk Strange behaviour Recently in the Kruger National park when everyone was looking for lions and leopards, I was fascinated by this insect that looked like it had come straight out of a horror movie. Grasshopper spiked on thorn tree. Frog spiked on barbed wire by Fiscal Shrike. I had never seen an Armoured Ground Cricket this colour before. Normally they are grey or light brown. They certainly have quite an arsenal of anti predator weapons. Firstly they have extremely strong jaws and sharp teeth that can draw blood on humans when bitten. If that fails to repel a predator they release a yellow substance that smells and tastes terrible. I actually filmed one being attacked by a Red Tailed Skink that grabbed it by a leg and immediately let go Wandering around <strong>Dainfern</strong> we often come across insects and other small animals being “spiked” on thorns or on barbed fences . Many years ago I was told that this was the work of the “Butcher Bird” or “Fiscal Shrike”. It was known as the “Shrikes Pantry” because the bird would come back and eat it later. While I still lived in Blairgowrie I had one of these shrikes in my garden who used a large aloe for this purpose. It would continually spike small items of food i.e. beetles, pieces of cheese, biltong, bacon, spiders and once a small wolf snake on the thorns at the end of the aloe leaves. NOT ONCE DID I SEE THE SHRIKE EAT ANY OF THESE MORSELS and I am convinced that it is merely a territorial display warning other shrikes that, “This is my territory, keep out and stay out!!” IMPORTANT Please remember to keep on reporting any interesting sightings in your garden using my email address thespronks@telkomsa.net. I would also welcome any sightings you may have had on a recent trip. - 36 -
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Glen Publisher_Dainfern In Focus_Issue 0717

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