Birdwatching at home

Bird watcher equivalent to the beer bottle on the beach

 

Repurposed grinding stone

 

We are lucky to have a covered porch area and a pair of bird baths to provide entertainment for us. The bird baths are actually repurposed grinding stones, something which is rare to see in the global north but still very common here. I am particularly fond of one in particular as I collected it on an expedition to the bush from an area that is now uninhabited. It's fascinating to contemplate its age and echoes of human history. But for now, it is filled with water and enjoyed by birds (and critters) of all types. 

The bird bathes receive more attention in the dry season when water is more scarce but it still receives visits year round. The bird baths are situated in an area about 4.5m (15 ft) from our sitting area allowing for easy viewing. We can appreciate them with the naked eye or enjoy more detail using binoculars but they are certainly close enough for easy identification when binoculars are not handy. 

I really enjoy having my coffee in the mornings and watching the different groups of birds pop in for a drink or quick bath. We've seen 225 of species at camp since we moved here with about 55 of them having been recorded each month. That means there are plenty of familiar faces while also the possibility of a rare visitor turning up. It's fun to note the behaviors and etiquette at the bird bath; Ashy Starlings come in a large group and trash the place, the African Bare-eyed Thrush bullies everyone and doesn't share, weavers overwhelm the bath but readily share with smaller birds, and on and on.

A sample of the visitors, including our resident Shikra

The bird aren't the only thing attracted to the bird baths. Toads, frogs, wasps, bees, mongooses, monitor lizards, smaller lizards and skinks, jackals, dogs, and everything else that needs water to survive occasionally find their way to the water source. It's a simple addition to our outdoor space that provides constant entertainment and wildlife sightings!