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Bird Ringing at Feather River Lodge
Rihann Geyser

Madeleen and Johann van Loggerenberg and I visited Feather River Lodge, near Graskop in the Mpumalanga Province from 17-21 November 1999.

This proved to be a very rewarding camp and we ringed birds that we had only dreamt of ringing, let alone seeing one day. Feather River Lodge belongs to the Sandton Bird Club. This area consists of indigenous forest in the middle of the SAPPI plantations. On the first day we barely arrived at Feather River Lodge and the nets were up. We were up at 3:00 every morning to make sure we don't miss out on the specials. 154 birds were ringed in total consisting of 34 species, and 5 birds were retrapped. The first exciting bird we caught was a Yellow-streaked Bulbul, which I hoped I would at least see during this visit. We ended up ringing 16 of them. One of the highlights of the camp was when Madeleen unexpectedly caught a Bush Blackcap in her net, which we wondered if it has ever been recorded for Feather River Lodge. [According to Warren McClelland it is not known from this area - ed.]. It is one of those birds you rarely see and it is then when ringing reveals what is hidden in that thick and dark forest. This is a good example where bird ringing plays an important role in determining the biodiversity of an area.

Another ringing highlight was a male Narina Trogon. Don't be fooled by its beauty, however: they, as in the case of Redbilled Woodhoopoe, stink like hell. This is probably because they are hole-nesting birds and need to drive away insects and predators by their smell. An African Goshawk was caught in the net after trying to catch a Terrestrial Bulbul in the net.

A Jackal Buzzard, Common (Steppe) Buzzard and Blackshouldered Kite was caught on the Balchatri in the Pilgrim's Rest area. The five birds retrapped were all, except one, ringed by Geoff Lockwood and the oldest, a Chorister Robin, was 7 years 0 months and 16 days. See Table 2 for all the birds retrapped. All were originally ringed at Feather River Lodge.

79 bird species were recorded during this visit which include Buffspotted Flufftail, Emerald, Black, Klaas's and Redchested Cuckoo, Grey Cuckooshrike and European Bee-eater.

For those who have visited Feather River Lodge before I regret to inform you that the large Celtis africana tree in front of the lapa and above the fire place fell over during a strong wind which swiped through the camp just before a thunder storm. Luckily it fell away from the lapa and not on it.

Thanks to the Sandton Bird Club for a wonderful stay and to Madeleen for organizing this camp.