Through the CCTV camera in the house, I see the movement. I run to grab my camera and I run through my room door to catch them in action. A whole family of patrys (Cape spurfowl or Pternistis capensis) are sitting underneath one of the fynbos plants. They are pecking the grass to find the seeds beneath the leaves, they scrub and scrub and scrub to find the bugs hidden in the healthy soil. I hide behind the rosemary bushes, they did not see me!
Their feathers always remind me of artworks, abstract paint strokes that make them the beautiful creatures they are. I always love their visit in the garden. Their calls are so quiet and silent, as if they are acknowledging their visit in the garden with a polite:
"Sorry to intrude, but can we find some bugs to munch on?"
It is a whole family that has naturalised in my garden, but their visits are cut short by the domestic life around us. Various houses has cats, big dogs, and then there are those who drive in their cars with no remorse. They do not look where they are going, they just drive.
It is funny how we humans want to cuddle and coddle these animals. I just to pick one up and hold it close. They look so puffy and adorable.
They have naturalised in the urban jungle, feeding even on invasive species. They eat all the seeds and distribute them. One can make the claim that they are in fact spreading invasive species, but is that not our fault from the begining?
I have written many posts in which I declared my negative feelings toward people who get rid of their so-called weeds. I keep mine in the garden because these so-called weeds are in fact the food of these beautiful birds.
If we get rid of all the weeds, what will they eat?
Now here I sit, drinking a beer after a long day, reminiscing about how we are actually responsible for their demise whilst we comfort ourselves that everything is fine.
And on that depressing note, all of the images are my own. I took them with my still holding up Nikon D300 and 300mm zoom lens. The musings are my own. I hope you enjoyed the post and the photographs of these beautiful animals. Happy birding and stay well!