What happened at Dunefields?
New Year’s travel group. The group enjoyed an educational walk that Tiaan facilitated in the dune thicket vegetation along the our coastline. Our guests learned about the importance of fire in the thicket and fynbos ecosystem, and the influence of alien invasive vegetation on the indigenous vegetation. The guests also got to feel different textures and smell different aromas during the walk as we believe there is no better way to experience nature than to use multiple of our senses while learning about the vegetation types on the nature reserve.
The New Year’s travel group also learned about the endangered Cape gannet during a presentation that Zanri facilitated. Important questions arose during the presentation, and Zanri definitely appreciated the energy in the room while the friends and family continually stared at the screen in awe of this special seabird species.
Renovations have started with the new deck, braai and the jacuzzi at the Buettners’. We are extremely thankful and excited for the next-level solar system upgrade which has also begun. This subsequently led to roadway traffic, something that doesn’t happen often at Dunefields, especially not with vehicles that weigh a few tons.
This month marked Jan’s first flight from Dunefields. In the meantime he has done several more flights from Dunefields, of which we believe there is still many to come.
Soon after we mounted the wind sock, other paragliders came landing at the Dunefields paragliding launching pad. We then made a large sign that reads: “no, no landing”. Thereafter we have never had a problem with unauthorised landings – except we had quite a giggle when Jan found the sign covered by sand that the molerat pushed up, as if the mole wants to be accompanied by the random paragliders.
We have started removing the dead branches from certain areas in the reserve, and have been piling it up at one location in the valley where we aim to do a stack burn in the winter months. The clearing of alien invasive vegetation is very important for many reasons but specifically, if the branches are not chipped or removed from the veld, it becomes a fire risk and therefore we are in the process of removing the piles of branches scattered around the nature reserve.
Tiaan and Jan went hiking a few times this month – or should we say bundo bashing down to the ocean. We were all too glad that Holly has expertise in medicine because Jan really needed some post-hike treatment for his wounds. At least the hike was enjoyed despite some scars to show for it.
While Jan was crawling through the bushes at some stage of the hike, he lost his communication radio. It was a miracle that Tiaan found the radio in the bushes a few days later.
Who Calls Dunfields Home?
Can you guess the animal species that was photographed by the camera trap? Find the answer at the end of the report to see if you were correct – but don’t cheat, give it some thought. We think you will agree with us when we say this animal could have been chosen as the Puss in Boots character in Shrek the movie with these cute eyes. But maybe it was the bites out from the ear that costed him the role in the film.
Tiaan rescued a Brown-hooded kingfisher that was trapped in the shed, and he then successfully released it outside after having checked for any possible injuries sustained. This marks our first rescue at Dunefields, and we were very happy to have shared the release of the bird with Jan and Holly – what a true feel-good moment when we watched the bird fly off strongly.
We are always happy to see caracal stroll past the managers’ house. Here the caracal was walking two meters away from the gate outside the house. This means that we are not a disturbance to the animals, and that they don’t feel threatened coming so close to the infrastructure – which means we must be doing something right. Harmonious co-existence is key.
This month was the first time that a helmeted guineafowl has been observed with chicks. Keeping in mind that helmeted guineafowls have only been sighted thrice at Dunefields in the last four months, it therefore goes without saying that we were very happy when the chicks were observed. With guineafowls preferring open habitats as opposed to densely vegetated habitats, guineafowls are not regularly sighted and therefore it is always a pleasure to have them here on the odd occasion. We welcome all animals at Dunefields, and we will always be delighted to see new life joining their parents here with us.
Predators are required in an ecosystem to ensure that a balance is being maintained. This heron regularly patrols the valley in front of the managers’ house in search of its next meal. With one mouse per week in this house, we appreciate the heron at work in the valley in search for mice, among other animals. Lets just hope that the toads at the Buettners’ house steer clear of this skilled hunter.
Jan and Holly have had visitors for the last few weeks, not only in the form of humans but in the form of animals, toads specifically. Not only have the toads been jumping onto the stairs into the pot plants where Jan and Holly check up on them daily, but they also go “knocking” on the front door when the Buettners are not home. It is amazing how the presence of an animal so small can bring one so much joy. Jan and Holly are a great example to us all with regards to “every life matters”.
Dunefields has sunsets like no other. And as every sun sets, it brings about a present in the form of another day which we see as another opportunity to fight for nature. The species name of the animal photographed by the camera trap is: Large spotted genet.