skip to main |
skip to sidebar
At the moment I'm looking after two "new" babies. The photo above is Cherpy, who might be a Black Headed Oriole and possibly about 6 to 7 weeks old. He was a survivor from the tree that feel on our communication tower in September. The photo below is Tinkie who is possibly an African Yellow White-eye and around 4 to 5 weeks old. Tinkie was left by one of the gardeners inside an empty whiskey carton with a note saying "Dear Sir/Madam, inside this there is a small bird". Both babies are doing well and flying around on 
my verandah when I let them out of their respective cages.
I feed them with pro-nutro and a little boiled egg mashed up with the pro-nutro. Cherpy is very entertaining - he thinks he's an acrobat - hangs upside down and investigates and tries everything. He likes to eat fruit and had his first bath yesterday (inside his water bowl). I've also put some small sticks and blue bottle lids in the cage for him and he loves turning these over and carrying them around the cage. He has also started showing interest in ants. His behaviour is indicative of Oriole type activity so hopefully we're correct in assuming his identity. Tinkie is also starting to get more active around his cage. He likes pineapple but has not yet started eating it on his own - I must chew it a bit first and then feed it to him. The rims of his eyes are starting to colour white now so I'm sure he'll be all "white-eyed" in a few weeks' time. He is absolutely tiny - as adults they only grow to about 12cm. I'll keep you updated on their progress and whether our estimations of identities were correct.
We had Bokke fever going around camp last night. Everyone congregated outside the bar where the IT guys set up the big screen - people pulled up chairs and tables laden with beers, biltong and all kinds of other "dangerous green things" to watch the match out in the open air. Some were more affected by the "green stuff" than others but I won't mention names. All in all, we had a brilliant night and after party at Steve and Sal's. Go Bokke! You made us proud! Thank you! Thanks also to our Ozzie friend Bob who wore the green shirt in support (far left on the photo) - we appreciate it. This photo was taken at the end of the game. I wonder if Bob had a spare shirt tucked away somewhere?
Sunday, 7 October 2007 - Chomp's release day. At last the other Black Kites have returned to site from their northern migration. Chomp has been waiting for this day for a long time. At 08h00 I give him the last meal I would have the privilige of feeding him - a rat that Kath caught on her verandah the day before. Pierre and I watch him enjoying his breakfast - he needs a big one to last him through this important and possibly difficult day. He's out of practice with flying and finding his own food. We're worried that he might not cope. At 10h00 a few people arrive to share the release with us - it was not widely advertised as I didn't want too much activity around him. At 10h10 Pierre opens the cage. We all hide away so Chomp can't see us - waiting for him to leave the cage. Nothing happens! He's just sitting inside, probably not realising that he can go. I go inside, take the little fish that's still lying on his feeding table and put it outside the cage - hoping he would follow it. Nothing happens. After a few minutes, Pierre decides to go inside and chase him out. At last he leaves the cage and I start crying. We all run after him and follow him to a tree a few hundred meters away. He's tired - not used to flying. He sits there, watching us from above. After a few minutes two other Black Kites start circling above him. He joins them. It is a magical moment and everone starts clapping and chearing him on. We watch in awe how the three birds continue to circle around and around the camp. How amazing is that!
Congratulations Chomp - you're a champion! We're keeping an eye out for you every day, hoping that you're still in the area. We'll never forget you.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved with Chomp : his medical care, his feeding (feeding him when I was on leave and catching food like grasshoppers, fish, snakes, rats, etc for him) and for regular visits and interest in his recovery. Thanks also for all your support - I could not have done it without you all. Also a special thanks to Henk D for taking these beautiful release photographs.
At the moment I'm looking after two "new" babies. The photo above is Cherpy, who might be a Black Headed Oriole and possibly about 6 to 7 weeks old. He was a survivor from the tree that feel on our communication tower in September. The photo below is Tinkie who is possibly an African Yellow White-eye and around 4 to 5 weeks old. Tinkie was left by one of the gardeners inside an empty whiskey carton with a note saying "Dear Sir/Madam, inside this there is a small bird". Both babies are doing well and flying around on 
my verandah when I let them out of their respective cages.
I feed them with pro-nutro and a little boiled egg mashed up with the pro-nutro. Cherpy is very entertaining - he thinks he's an acrobat - hangs upside down and investigates and tries everything. He likes to eat fruit and had his first bath yesterday (inside his water bowl). I've also put some small sticks and blue bottle lids in the cage for him and he loves turning these over and carrying them around the cage. He has also started showing interest in ants. His behaviour is indicative of Oriole type activity so hopefully we're correct in assuming his identity. Tinkie is also starting to get more active around his cage. He likes pineapple but has not yet started eating it on his own - I must chew it a bit first and then feed it to him. The rims of his eyes are starting to colour white now so I'm sure he'll be all "white-eyed" in a few weeks' time. He is absolutely tiny - as adults they only grow to about 12cm. I'll keep you updated on their progress and whether our estimations of identities were correct.
