The Little Hanger

Tags

Cape Floristic Region, Cape Town, environment, Erica plukenetii, Flowers, South African endemic plant, Sugar-bird, Sunbirds

The little Hanger
(Erica Plukenetii)

Its Afrikaans common name, hangertjie, means ‘the little hanger’, and is thought to come from the way the sunbirds and sugarbirds appear to ‘hang’ from the flowers while feeding on the nectar.

Erica plukenetii is a common species that is found on mountain slopes throughout most of the Cape Floristic Region.

Sugarbirds

Tags

Cape Sugar-bird, Cape Town, environment, nature, sugar water feeder, Sugar-bird, The Cape Sugar-bird

This poor little frightened Sugar-bird flew into my house today. Summer is a time when the Sugar-birds invade our gardens. They are greedy feeders at the sugar water feeder. Often there are up 14 birds vying for the feeder, making a huge noise and fights are frequent.

The Cape Sugar-bird is a grey-brown bird that easily recognizable by a spot of yellow under its tail and the very long tail feathers present in males. The male is 34–44 cm long, and the shorter-tailed, shorter-billed, and paler breasted female 25–29 cm long. Another characteristic of the Cape Sugar-bird is the sound it makes when it flies. The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, a fr rt-fr rt sound is made with the intention of attracting females.

The Cape Sugar-bird is a specialist nectar feeder when it comes to feeding off Proteaceae. Its long, sharp beak is used to reach the nectar of a variety of species of protea with its long brush-tipped tongue. The staple diet of this sugar-bird is nectar; however, it will also eat spiders and insects. The characteristic strong winds in the Cape may make feeding off protea heads difficult, but the Cape Sugar-bird has adapted to this with the development of sharp claws.

 

RELATED ARTICLES :

Sugarbush and the God Proteus

 

Mother Earth Mural – Stoked

Tags

Cape Town, environment, Mother Earth, Muizenberg, mural, protea, Southern Right Whale, Sugar-bird, Surf, Surfboard, Travel, Whale

“Respect Mother Earth for all that she is worth”

 

 

 

Parking at Muizenberg station yesterday was so uplifting. This beautiful mural jumped out at me. What a wonderful way to upgrade an environment.

 

 

 

 

Amazing detail.

 

This surfer is heading the correct way to Surfer’s Corner.

 

 

The Southern Right Whale is on the Rainbow.

 

 

The surf board is decorated with the Sugar-bird and Protea.

 

All these Natural Elements are endemic to Muizenberg.