Cape Town - Enthusiastic birders would be excited to hear about the 4 new species of birds recently spotted in the Karoo National Park near Beaufort-West.
Fiery-necked Nightjars, Neddickies, Blue Waxbills and Black Cuckooshrikes can now be spotted alongside the other 250 bird species in the Park.
According to Japie Claassen, a local birding enthusiast and one of the honorary rangers, the 4 new additions migrated to the park organically.
He says, "one reason for their [the birds'] expanding ranges can be due to the favourable natural conditions" that the Karoo National Park holds. He elaborates that "birds are often wandering long distances to find food and the area along the Gamka River where the first 3 species were seen, has the right habitat for them to feed".
According to Claassen all the new birds, except the Black Cuckooshrike, were seen in the Bulkraal picnic area. The Black Cuckooshrike was seen in the kloof along the Klipspringer Pass in the Park.
All 4 of the new birds in the Park are all indigenous to South Africa.
Claassen explains that, "fiery-necked Nightjars are common in the Prince Albert area and to east towards Murraysburg", whilst the Neddicky is also common to the east. He says the Blue Waxbill "is probably an escapee from town where some people keep them in cages".
The Black Cuckooshrike's nearest known area is in the Baviaanskloof area south of Willowmore.
Here's what the new birds in the Park look like:
Fiery-necked Nightjar:
Neddicky:
Blue Waxbill:
Black Cuckooshrike:
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