Bird Watching
If you are serious about bird watching and would like to contribute to bird conservation in South Africa, visit the South African Bird Atlasing project website http://sabap2.adu.org.za and submit your Giba lists here (in the prescribed format).
The sand road and planned trails all offer good access to the forest, woodland, wetland and grassland habitats in the area. Some of the specials include:
African Crowned Eagle
There are two nests of this species in the GGEP, one in the main gorge near the river (and visible from the sand road) and the other in MacIntosh Falls area, adjacent the freeway. This large and powerful raptor is well known for its hunting skills in forest environments where it feeds on monkeys, dassies, large birds, such as Hadedas, and many other forest animals.
Photo credit: Hugh Chittenden
Spotted Ground Thrush
Classified as ‘Endangered’, this is one of the most threatened species in eThekwini. They migrate from the Eastern Cape (formerly Transkei) after their breeding season there has ended, making their way up the coast to forests in southern KZN. In Durban, they are present from April through to September. Their presence is given away by their foraging activities on the forest floor where they probe amongst the leaf litter looking for insects and earthworms.
Photo credit: Hugh Chittenden
Green Twinspot
This colourful little seed eater can be difficult to spot so it is important to be familiar with its call if you want to get a chance of seeing it. Usually in small groups, this species is commonly found on forest margins where it forages on grass seeds, such as those of Setaria megaphylla (large, broad leaved grass species) which seed in late summer – a good time of year to locate these birds.
Photo credit: Hugh Chittenden
Lemon Dove
This small elusive dove is indicative of good-quality forest and forages in the forest understorey where it is easily overlooked. Listen out for its call – this may be the best way to locate it.
Knysna Turaco
An endemic to South Africa, this striking and conspicuous species is often spotted in tree canopies. In Durban, it is mostly spotted in the winter months when their numbers increase north of their summer distributional range.
Narina Trogon
Present throughout the year in Giba. Not the easiest species to locate but once found is truly rewarding with bright crimson and emerald plumage. Listen out for this bird’s call in the main forest through the gorge.
Photo credit: Hugh Chittenden
Grey Cuckooshrike
This species is seasonal in Giba, found only during the cooler months, during the non-breeding season. It is a forest species that is usually active high up in the canopy where it can be found in mixed species flocks.
Bush Blackcap
An endemic to eastern South Africa and Swaziland, this bird is an extremely rare visitor to Giba in the winter months. It migrates from its higher altitude mist-belt and afromontane forests during the non-breeding season inhabiting forests and adjacent thickets.
Photo credit: Hugh Chittenden
