Communication with Birds
Communication with Birds is a red thread through my life. . . but this was definitely a Cape White-eye SOS this morning! Panic in my garden!
Social Networks
These tiny birds form large “social networks” outside the breeding season and often visit flowering bushes or berry-bearing plants in large flocks – appearing like shimmering clouds feeding on insects and nectar, berries, fruit and small grains.
As in all Social Networks (in one way or another), Cape White-eyes are very vocal and can easily be distinguished by their soft trilled pee, pree or pirreee callnotes that they use to stay connected, however, what I heard this morning was a highly agitated pitch varying in volume and tempo. . .
Communication with Birds
One doesn’t need a degree in Communication with Birds to understand if something is wrong – and to react accordingly… and fast!
MadMax was with me, so it wasn’t the cat… but it could be a snake, a hawk or a mongoose… to name just a few of many possibilities.
Cape White-eye
Guided by what turned out to be the parents, I discovered a tiny little Cape White-eye (Zosterops pallidus, ‘Glasogie’ in Afrikaans) sitting motionless on the ground – an easy prey for any predator. I had to operate fast to capture the little being and get it into a safe, warm place – while the parents fluttered in great distress around me. . . and MadMax already watched my movements with great interest from my studio. Getting him out there and me inside – the adorable little being warmly covered with my hands – was not an easy operation, however, he also seemed to . . . understand!
Finally, I could check this tiny feather ball without finding any external damage, caress it and get some life back into it… while the parents watched through the windows, cheering with their little voices.
When I was called to my PC to answer a call… the idea of “Cape White-eye Online” was born!
I took a series of quick – and far from optimal shots photographically speaking – with my Logitech camera, however, you rarely get a Cape White-eye chick this close in front of your lens! And how exciting and touching: you see how it basically ‘woke up’ and then flew onto a window sill – an indication that after all it was well! it could fly!
So I caught it gently and took it to the golden Solandra Maxima tree I told you about in an earlier post – where I know many birds are currently breeding – and let it fly into the air! It was wonderful to see it happy and free… and immediately its parents were around with some tremolo chirps… and life continued as normal!
| Author: Bianca Gubalke, Art, Media, Publishing.
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