World Migratory Bird Day is marked twice a year, in May and October with these days internded to draw attention to the movement of millions of birds across continents. It remains one of the quieter dates on the environmental calendar, and it often passes unnoticed unless you are a birder and resident in an eco- Estate like Simbithi Eco Estate.
In South Africa, the October date coincides with the start of spring, as summer migrants return from the north to breed and feed through the warmer months. At Simbithi Eco-Estate in Ballito, their arrival is hard to miss. Here, migration is not an abstract idea but something residents see and hear for themselves, from the first calls of returning cuckoos in the forest to swallows hawking for insects over the dams.
Why migration matters
Migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres between breeding and feeding grounds, relying on a chain of safe places to rest and refuel along the way. When one link in that chain is lost to development, pollution or habitat change, entire populations feel the effect. World Migratory Bird Day was created to raise awareness of these journeys and the need to protect the habitats that make them possible.
“Migratory birds don’t recognise borders or property lines,” says Simbithi Environmental Manager Ayanda Duma. “They depend on a network of healthy habitats stretching across countries and continents. Every protected wetland, forest and grassland along the way plays a part, and the North Coast is an important part of that network.”
Who arrives in October
As spring takes hold in October, Simbithi’s resident birders begin logging the arrival of a familiar group of summer visitors. These include the European Honey Buzzard and Yellow-billed Kite, Barn and White-throated Swallows, the White-rumped Swift, the tiny Willow Warbler, the African Pygmy Kingfisher, the Violet-backed Starling, the African Paradise Flycatcher and the Little Bittern.
The cuckoos are among the season’s most anticipated arrivals. Diederik, Black, Klaas’s and Red-chested Cuckoos all return to breed, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds. Residents have even recorded a Klaas’s Cuckoo using a Black-throated Wattle-eye as its host, an unusual pairing for the species. Watching a large cuckoo chick being fed by a much smaller foster parent is one of the more remarkable sights of the summer months.
A record built by residents
Much of what is known about birdlife on the Estate comes from residents themselves. Over the years, Simbithi’s birders have kept careful records of species, sightings and seasonal arrivals, and the Estate’s list now stands at close to 300 species. This knowledge is captured in the Birds of Simbithi book, a valuable reference for anyone wanting to identify and learn about the birds found on the Estate.
Long-term observation also supports conservation. Simbithi Eco Estate monitors species such as the African Woolly-necked Stork, some of which are fitted with identification rings above the knee, and the rare Spotted Ground Thrush, a winter visitor whose first and last sightings residents have recorded year after year.
How to look and listen this season
With the migratory season now underway, Simbithi’s birders share a few simple tips for anyone wanting to look and listen. Look out for indigenous trees bearing fruit or berries, and for Coral Trees in flower, which attract sunbirds and white-eyes. Watch for termites emerging on the first sunny day after rain, a feast that draws birds in large numbers. If you find an active nest, observe it from a distance, and remember that nests are not always woven baskets in trees: many birds breed in holes in trees or in the ground.
Planting indigenous species, keeping cats indoors at dawn and dusk, and reporting ringed birds to the Estate’s environmental team are all practical ways to help.“World Migratory Bird Day is a reminder that the birds in our gardens are part of a much bigger story,” says Duma. “The more people notice them, the more likely we are to protect the places they depend on.”