Kori Bustard

Famed as the heaviest flying bird in the world (although contested by certain Mute Swans), the Kori Bustard is remarkably common in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and is sure to be encountered in the riverbeds. Early settlers of Dutch origin, whose initial knowledge of natural history was largely based on tales of previous European exploration in Southeast Asia, often named African animals after these exotic beasts. Hence, leopards were called ‘tygers’ (‘tigers’, see p.8) and the Kori Bustard was named ‘pou’ (‘peacock’) because of its gaudy display, when the male inflates a feathery throat-pouch and splays its tail feathers. The Afrikaans name Gompou (‘gum—peacock’) refers to the bird’s curious habitat of feeding on gum oozing from the bark of camelthorn trees. These majestic creatures also occur more scarcely in the Augrabies Falls National Park, and indeed throughout Bushmanland and the Kalahari.

Giant Eagle Owl

Despite its widespread presence in Africa, this species is rarely easy to find and will be a target of many birders visiting the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. The best place to look for it is along the broad, dry bed of the Auob River, where it roosts by day in the huge, gnarled camelthorn trees. By driving along and scanning the trees for large silhouettes on the heavier branches, you are bound to pick up at least one or two on the drive from Twee Rivieren to Mata Mata. One dead give-away is the presence, under trees, of small piles of neatly peeled-off spiny skins of the Southern African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis), which is a favoured prey item.

Burchell’s Sandgrouse

This near-endemic can be quite elusive, and is best seen in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (p.110). They are quite specific in their habitat requirements, and are only found on the red Kalahari sands. The best way to see them is to wait near a waterhole, especially between 2 and 4 hours after sunrise (p.110). Here a male is pictured soaking his absorbent, water-retaining belly feathers, which will provide moisture for his thirsty chicks upon his return to the nest.

Clapper Lark

This endemic is named for its rapid wing-clapping display (conspicuous in spring and summer) when the wings are beaten together a remarkable 26 times per second. Although it superficially resembles just another of Africa’s brown larks, closer examination reveals exquisite, richly marked upperparts. The bird pictured here is the inland grassland subspecies that occurs in the Kalahari: the birds in the southwestern Cape show darker brown upperparts that contrast more with the orange underparts (see photograph on p.64). Taxonomic comments are provided on p.13.