Filling the Gaps

Searching for the breeding cliffs from the reserve side

 

 

               This Friday when we got back from the August vulture monitoring trip, a set of old slides were brought out to examine. I’m actually not even sure how slides are made. I opened the box that said “The plight of the Cape Vulture”, these belonged to the late scientist that researched the vultures for decades (and who took the photographs of the site I work at).

                 

              The slides were for a presentation about Cape Vulture conservation. It included such phrases as “Cape vultures go everywhere, so they need to be conserved everywhere”. Three out of the 100 or so slides contained information about the site register. The register is almost like a work of fiction to me. It is a compilation of all roosting and breeding Cape Vulture sites. Imagine having 2,000 records of where one species of bird slept and reproduced. It is a massive undertaking, but for a vulture that is 90% restricted to South Africa it is necessary. 

Not all vulture colonies are this easy to find...

 

 

                     As I go through the slides, I find another clue in this mystery. My studies have the makings of a good novel: interesting characters, thrilling adventures, idiotic moments (car keys), dead animals, and giant birds. Ok, it might not be a typical novel, but a good one nonetheless. 

Students Investigating during the June 2012 trip

 

                As I conduct my work and continue to read, write, and collect data I am constantly reminded that it does matter.  From communicating and working with conservationists, scientists, retired researchers, professors, volunteers, and undergraduate students I am beginning to piece together the bigger picture. As a grad student, that is my job; to synthesize information and to boil it down. It is hard work, but I’m putting it together piece by piece.

Make this Place Your Home

The Group

The title comes from the popular song heard on the radio recently. What makes a place a home? Family for one thing! Three weeks in August were designated for the Pfeiffer Africa Adventure. Epic title for an epic vacation, the three Pfeiffers on the same continent! 

Neither of my parents have ever been to Africa, and it was my dad’s first international experience! The mountain man and I were the chauffeur, cooks, and game rangers for their five phase stay.

Phase 1 Hluehluwe-imfolozi. This is one of the oldest reserves in South Africa and is known for its rhinos. We had plenty of rhino sightings, something I did not have the chance to experience at Addo Elephant Park in 2010. But the highlight of that trip were the White-backed Vulture nests (found at the tops of the tallest trees), and a pack of wild dogs! We were photographing a Sabota Lark (lifer!) when a van pulled up beside us and told us of the painted dog sighting at “number 26”. The next 20 minutes were literally a blur as we speed through the bush to witness the sleeping dogs. We sat there the longest out of all the cars, and it paid off when a few decided to get up and stretch in the sun.

The Stretch- African Wild Dog

The pose - African Wild Dog

Phase 2 St. Lucia Wetland Park. Our drive from Hluhluewe to the luxurious bed and breakfast took a toll on my parents. It was the same feeling I had in 2010 when we drove through the shanty towns around Cape Town into the Stellenbosch wine region. This country has so many layers.  The whale-watching trip here was spectacular! They launched us from the beach, no pier or anything, and we raced against the breaking waves. Good thing the captain showed us how to brace ourselves before the departure! We travelled about 30 min. to a pod of Humpbacked Whales. It was a group of males chasing a female. I tell you what; ocean research is something I could get into. The animals out there are fascinating, and still not much is known about them.

Phase 3 Pietermarizburg. My professor hosted a wonderful post grad dinner. She knows how to bring everyone together over the best food in town! I still have to get the recipe for an awesome ground beef and cheese dish called Bobotie.

Phase 4 Mkambati. This had the most hectic planning out of everything. I learned the hard way that South Africans call this symbol (.) a full stop and not a period. Therefore it was very hard to get a reservation sent to my email that had a peri….full stop in it! Mkambati greeted us with the worst roads I have seen yet, a present from the latest rain. Also the fact that they are fixing the only road in the reserve means one has to drive through a ‘detour’.  However, the long days at the beach in the sun made us forget about the rough roads at least for a day!

Phase 5 Pennington. This is a small beach community that we stopped at before they took their plane trip back over the Atlantic. My dad had his round of golf and my mom really liked the bath tub. A Green Twinspot was spotted at the back yard feeder. As for myself, I got a bad case of sniffles that lasted 12 hours!

Green Twinspot Photo credit: Glen Mclean

It was awesome and tiring to have my folks here. I got to see places I hadn’t seen before and also got to show them the places where I work. The time spent at Mkambati was very special as well, because I caught a fish! Finally after hours of fishing. It was a rather large catfaced rock cod, but not good eating so it went back.

The trip also reminded me how much I do miss home and the people there.  But they also got to see the beauty, animals, and people that make this place so unique and wild. Travelling and living on my own has made me a stronger person, but I know that my family and friends in the US will always be there for me. Thanks! 

The Pfeiffers Photo Credit: Glen Mclean