Pelican Pete - Hwange

I have been touched by a tale of survival recently! The name of our hero is "Pelican Pete"
Pelican Pete arrived at a waterhole in Hwange several months ago, along with literally hundreds of others according to Hwange's own Santa....Mr B!

Pelican Pete not so much flying as plummeting!

To Mr B's surprise, the next day they had all flown away....well all but one! Pelican Pete had suffered an injury in the night and couldn't fly.

Well water was plentiful and "old Pete" was quite content until the dry season matured and his little pan was muddied up by hundreds of thirsty mammals. He was visited on several occasions by passing pelicans but they never stayed longer than a day or two before heading to some distant horizon!

Poor Pete has been seen running full-tap into gale-force winds with wings open in the hope that he too can head for the horizon but gravity has other ideas!

I spent a few days in that area and watched with dismay as his little pan dwindled!

His neighbours all want him too! but watch this space for news on
Pelican Pete!

Pelican Pete and his neighbours

                                                              The Hwange Birder

Rocking and Rolling at the main gate!

For those of you coming to Hwange in the near future......as you cross the railway line and are stopped at the boom-gate by the ranger asking you to sign in......swing your eyes to the left of the road about 10meters from the gate and there...in a tree you will see a large hole. if you are as lucky as we were the other day you will see a racket-tailed roller coming and going as they have just started nesting in it.

Incidentally the Racket-tailed roller is one of the species that help give Hwange the status of an IBA (Important bird area).

                                                                The Hwange Birder