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Crested Francolin - KRS
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This is one of my favourite birds! The Crested Francolin is a common bushveld bird - one of the memorable sounds of the bushveld is their call. Usually found in pairs or in groups. They are well camouflaged and blend in to the grass well but they need to be as they are prey for a number of raptors as well as Caracal, Jackal, African Wild Cat and Foxes.
They are commonly seen in the KRS around the campsites coming to drink at the birdbaths which I've mentioned before. They are shy but if you wait patiently they do come closer. These birds were waiting 'in the wings' for me to move as I was camped out near the bird bath with my tripod waiting for birds to arrive! :)
These birds have a unique call - the male will usually start ("keek") and the female will answer ("kerr") but all in perfect unison so that it sounds like one call. Only when you actually see them calling do you believe its the two birds calling together. Whenever the male calls the female seems obliged to respond so you rarely hear the one call without the other!! Fascinating eh!! :)
Again I'll include my speel about the KRS - are you beginning to get the impression that I love the place??!! :) One of these days I'll change it but havent got time right now....
The 4,300 hectare Sanctuary was established in 1992 to facilitate the reintroduction of White Rhino into Botswana after poaching had left only a handful of Rhino's in the wild.
As well as White Rhino the KRS has numerous other animals including Giraffe, Burchell's Zebra and numerous Antelope - most of which were reintroduced to the area. Along with the animals that were brought in there are other more secretive animals, that can be seen, which survived the encroachment and hunting pressures of man such as Kudu, Leopard, Brown Hyena and Caracal to name a few.
The campsites & chalets at Mokongwa Camp are in a beautiful setting under large Mokongwa trees and the surrounding bushveld attracts good birdlife to the campsites.
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is well worth a visit if you are passing through on your way to the North of Botswana. Its relatively small size means that you can cover most areas of the Sanctuary in one day and due to the quantities of game it often proves more rewarding than game drives in the larger reserves.
View more of my photos at my website - Botswana Wildlife Photography |
ellis49, elefantino has marked this note useful
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Hi Phiip,
Lovely colours, nice low POV and
good details. Well done with the compostition.
Well done.
- Zeno
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 0 N: 926]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(7969) - [2006-04-08 11:52]
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Hi Philip,
This is an interesting bird and I've seen them many times during my stays in South Africa.
Natural photo with interesting details.
TFS
Regards,
Zeno.
Hi Phil,
here I'm again.
Another great shot from you.
A common bird but a good photo.
Real colors, good light/shadow effect.
Thanks for sharing.
Andrea
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 22 W: 0 N: 45]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif){kind=small}
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(28669)