Jan 12
colleague in shared field house got the message...
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colleague in shared field house got the message...
Shorebird Hunt, by Nick Dunlop
Taken near the Oregon and Washington state lines; "[p]ersistence paid off for my image here, as I guessed right and was in the right place at the right time to get an intimate shot of a hunting peregrine inside a flock of shorebirds."
I didn't realise/know that this documentary series (which I was a consultant for this Garden Route episode, that features my research) was aired on SABC3/S3 (in South Africa) earlier this year!! I'm so glad it was able to reach a larger audience with primetime public broadcasting!
Brief shot of one of my plover loves at 0:02-0:03 in the promo above…& the whole episode (← this source not location restricted, but use AYOR) is worth watching, but if you're interested, the segment on the birds & my research (including a rare appearance by a very blonde fieldwork version of yours truly!) starts at 30:43.
You can also find it through various streaming services; currently on:
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV+
NowTV (sky nature)
the last several nights, it's been spotted eagle owl & african wood owl calling...& seems cape bulbul season has begun, as they are checking out the nectar feeder (whenever my dog isn't on the stoep & sunbirds aren't chasing them away from the tasty juice)!
plus, got a call from our local vet tech (who also works with wildlife at the domestic practice) yesterday, that a white-fronted plover was brought in...my study species!
JUST LOOK AT THIS CUTE LIL' PRECIOUS BB!! 🤩😻
probably a young adult female, & is likely the progeny of the regional population i did extensive research on for my postgrad.
i helped develop a treatment plan for it (since shorebirds are very sensitive species, infamous for being difficult to treat/rehab, & notorious for doing poorly in captive care), & methods to prevent any further issues, until the mystery weakness & lameness it's presenting can be determined as botulism, capture myopathy (stress-induced muscle cramping that can turn fatal), or something else entirely.
*insert cliché, sentimental "it's moments like these..." statement here*