Snake predation on weaver nests
Weaver nests are often very conspicuous, as males (in polygynous species) try to attract more females. This means that the nests are also more visible to predat...
Author: Dieter
Dieter is a qualified Bird Ringer and trainer, registered bird guide, and Weaver expert. Dieter is able to act as a bird guide for day trips in Cape Town, and is able to customise birds tours in South Africa and beyond.
Weavers bathing
Many birds bathe to help clean their feathers, but some species do not seem to bathe. Species that often bathe include thrushes, bulbuls, babblers, finch...
Strandfontein during lockdown
Nature reserves in Cape Town opened on 17 July, during lockdown level 3, so we visited Strandfontein the next afternoon to see and enjoy some birds! It was grea...
Anting in weavers
Anting is when birds apply ants to their plumage. Birds select ants in the subfamily Formicinae, which produce formic acid when disturbed. Formic acid is toxic ...
Colony sizes of weavers
Oschadleus HD 2020 Variation in colony sizes of weavers from a citizen science project. Ostrich online Download a pdf of the paper here (limited to 50 copies,...
Dust bathing in birds
Why birds dust bathe Dust, or sand, bathing, helps birds in maintaining their plumage in good condition. The dust absorbs excess oil on the feathers to prevent ...
Weaver subspecies
Over 600 names have been proposed for weaver species and subspecies, but many of these names are taxonomically invalid. There are 117 weaver bird species, but d...
Longevities of kingfishers
Kingfishers are colourful and interesting, and it is always exciting to hold one in the hand. Catching them also provides valuable data, and here longevi...
Longevities of cranes
There are 15 species of cranes, found on 5 continents (not South America or Antarctica). The cranes are among most threatened bird families globally, wit...
Weaver identification
Weaver identification, ageing & sexing Papers from Safring News General Oschadleus HD. 2011. Iris colours in ageing and sexing South African Ploceus weavers...