Animal Sunday Photography My Contibution @homeartpictures
2018 visit up to the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park, Burchell's cougal the cuckoo species on the East Coast of South Africa
All photography is my own (please ask permission before you use any of my photography) Photography taken with either Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Burchell's coucal This guy sure can look after himself, Burchell's coucal AKA Gewone vleiloerie [Afrikaans] Foraging food on the ground usually in between tree foliage.
Their diet includes small mammals and rodents, with sharp claws to kill and hard bill to tear up the flesh, enjoy eating lizards, insects, snails, frogs and toads, small birds are on the menu as well, if they feel like it fruits appeals to them as well. Oh they stalk their prey like a cat through the thickets!
Striking features a cream under belly with black head, you won't miss them being 40 cm long, weighing in at around 180g. Found throughout South Africa, are quite happy to nest in gardens with lots of foliage, don't fly too often, favoring thickets to hop between or run across the floor.
Burchell's coucal mate for life are seen alone or in a pair, have untidy nests on the ground with some grass and leaves with a rounded entrance. Gardener's may become frustrated with them stealing eggs out of local bird nests, reality check... the circle of life.
This species of cuckoo is more often heard than seen with a cascade of bubbling notes know as the Rainbird vocalizing before, during and after the rainfall.
Women's lib is strong among the females, male birds build the nests, incubate most of the time and feed the nestlings. Both look alike, but females definitely dominate this domain.
The Burchell's Coucal is a rich chestnut-brown colour with marked bands on its upperparts, a black head, creamy undercarriage and a long black tail. He reminds me of a pirate in your own backyard!
“The Rainbird” by Douglas Livingstone
One day you turned to me and said “goodbye”,
“we’re all washed up,” and “better we should part.”
Then as my spirit jerked and bobbed afloat
I drowned in unreality to lie
upon a muddy world that leaned awry
with bubbles, weed, old boots and fishy dart.
Then from this depth I stood, absurd, remote,
and drifted out.
Beneath a filmy sky
I paused to listen to my flustered heart
and heard instead the Rainbird’s liquid note.
I surfaced, walking with a firmer tread
and joined the Rainbird in his mournful art.
But as the cricket in his plastic coat,
I gaily chirruped how my love was dead.
Clickable link below to join KRYPT0N1A (This link will take you away from Steemit.com - Use back click to come back once finished, or Right click to open into new window.)
Communities I Support:
!steemitworldmap -28.1232 lat 32.5564 long A - Z Bird Photography Isimangaliso Wetlands Park D3SCR
