SANParks.org Forums

On Sunday we saw this grooming session on the S28.
The youngster on the left almost resembles a vulture!

Been trying to get a good photo of these for a while - they do bob around so!

Richard

http://www.pbase.com/richardharris/june_2006

My only half decent attempt at photographing these head-bobbing-birds

As we all know, these are flightless birds, only even seen running around in a stupid manner. So when did they learn to climb trees?

Richard

http://www.pbase.com/richardharris/june_2006

Guineafowl are not flightless, they just prefer to run because they're better at that. They roost in trees.

Agree always seen them roosting in trees. They can fly if needs be.

Nope, Guineafowl are definitely not flightless…not good flyers, but they do fly. That is however a problem: I often encounter them on the N4 between Komatipoort and Hectorspruit when they are flying across the road. If one hits your windscreen at 120km/h it will most probably break the glass and I’ve even heard of people that got badly injured like that.
They are very unpredictable (small brain and all of that ) thus rather slow down when you see Guineafowl on the side of the road.



j-ms, I agree with your friend. We had a lot of Hadedas where we lived in PTA. In Maputo there is none left…they are slow and thus easy to catch…only saw one in 2 ½ years. Now, when I hear them in Kruger and Marloth, I actually get goose bumps from appreciation…

On H1-1 Near Skukuza:

belive it or not, but we found one in holland!!
well, it was dead at the side of the road, but it was one!!
it was near apeldoorn.

my colleges didnt even know what it was, they thought a tukey

i think it might have escaped from a farm or was thrown out of a car (already dead)

but i was sertanly surprised and had to think about the loops around shingwedzi. that was where i saw a youngh leopard hunt tham.
luckey for tham they got away with all feathers but protesting loudly while scattering in to the air


the leopard stalking the guineyfowls


the attack


and the leopard returning 'empty-handed' into the riverine forest.

(sorry for the bad quality, but there where made from the video)