Look at that tail in the wind as he sits on the Protea bush!
Today we went to deliver some parcels from Papillon to a Non Profit that works with disabled children.
After that we stopped off at a dam in the local nature reserve and I certainly took a heap of photos.
These photos are all fresh and taken today!
A bleak and hot African sun does not lend itself amicably to photography, but you will agree that this dam below looks very nice!
This is a male Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer) and this guy sports a very long tail!
The tail not only balances him when he eats, but it also steadies him in flight.
A secret pick up line of the male is in his wings, as when he flies, his wings make a sound to attract young females!
A lovely bird as he sits here on a Protea flower bud!
Meet the mom and she has less color and a shorter tail.
The sun was playing tricks on me here below, but I decided that the photo was too good not to post it!
And here is the youngster below!
Male or female I don't know, as he is too young to tell!
More information on the Cape Sugarbird!
"The Cape sugarbird is a grey-brown bird that is easily recognisable by a spot of yellow under its tail and the very long tail feathers present in males. The male is 34–44 cm long, and the shorter-tailed, shorter-billed, and paler breasted female 25–29 cm long. Another characteristic of the Cape sugarbird is the sound it makes when it flies. The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, a frrt-frrt sound is made with the intention of attracting females."
"The Cape sugarbird is distributed throughout most of the fire driven ecosystem of the Fynbos in South Africa, the dominant vegetation type of the Cape Floral Region where there are flowering proteas and ericas. It is also found in gardens in summer when most proteas are not in flower, but urban birds are associated with greater stress measures".
Source
Yes, it is indeed a lovely family and during winter when they nest in a Protea bush, the male will sit around singing all day. Beware any other bird that comes near their nest.
Just the way of nature where the males protect their families.
Sadly that is a lost habit nowadays as we work with many children that were abandoned by their fathers!
And That's All Friends!
I leave you with this!
“Health is the new wealth. Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. Kindness is the new cool.” —Syed Balkhi
Note: All photos are my own and taken with a Canon Powershot ZX60HS camera.
The parts in inverted commas ("") were duly [Source] cited!
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