Spring traps are useful for catching small insectivorous birds, like Cape Robin-chats and Southern Fiscals. It was a very pleasant surprise to find an adult African Rail in a large spring trap in the wetland area of Nuwejaarsrivier. African Rails are more often heard than seen, having a loud trilling call. Very few have been ringed, meaning that also there is little known about dispersal and longevity.
The captured adult had completed moult, similar to most birds caught at this time of year. The tarsus tapered quite a bit, becoming thicker towards the toes. Thus it was decided to rather place the ring on the tibia. Males are larger than females but biometrics overlap much – this individual may be a male based on biometrics.
Fact sheet:
Number ringed to date (SAFRING): 117 [1948-2024]
Longevity: 4y 7m [but needs checking]
Trip report: ebird
Reason special: very few ringed to date
