Birding Adventure in Botswana

Anyway, the following day I found myself at Tsaro Camp on the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve. Here, guests are accommodated in splendid comfort, with gourmet meals served on the lawn while Blackcollared Barbet, Redbilled Woodhoopoe, and even the uncommon African Golden Oriole hop about in the trees. An exciting afternoon game drive in Moremi had produced point-blank sightings of that most elusive of African predators, a Leopard, and our group was in high spirits.

When the last sunlight had faded away that evening, we noticed several nocturnal birds on the wide expanse of short, cropped (by Hippo) grass which gently slopes down to the Kwhai River. On closer inspection, we soon recognized Spotted Dikkop and then started debating the identity of a nightjar species. At that moment the diagrammatic illustrations of nightjar wing and tail patterns, which I had often studied in my copy of Newman's Birds of Southern Africa, suddenly intruded into my consciousness.

I had not gone out onto the lawn to catch a nightjar, but presented with motive and opportunity, I had to try. Flashlight in hand, I crept up close. The first one got away, as did the second, only because I allowed my hand to cross the beam of the flashlight. Learning quickly, I leaned over the next bird, shining the light into its eyes from the right-hand side, and surreptitiously moved my left hand closer from behind. Firmly, but gently closing my hand around the surprisingly soft and warm body of the bird completed the maneuver. With hardly a flutter, the bird was mine.

Feeling quite pleased, I walked back to my bungalow briskly, and with a little help quickly identified the bird as Rufouscheeked Nightjar, a common summer resident, according to Newman's very useful book. And sure enough, as in his illustration, the female Rufouscheeked (which it turned out to be) had buff spots on three main wing-feathers within the emarginations and no tail spots.

I may add that the bird was released within minutes of capture and that it did not suffer any more discomfort than one would expect during a banding experience. However, in retrospect, I must admit that capturing a bird in this manner borders on unethical behavior, unless it is done in the course of legitimate, scientific research, with the necessary official permit.

Story and photos copyright by Bert du Plessis and Fish Eagle Safaris, Houston.