Birds and running chicks

Saturday 22nd April 2023

I've become the Hadeda inspector.  They are loud, clumsy, invasive and annoying. Yet housesitting in my sister's house on the West Rand Ridge,  not far along from the first Witwatersrand gold mine, I've been fascinated with a flock of these big birds who nest in a Eucalyptus tree.

They leave just as the sky lightens enough and fly loudly off in different directions and return at sunset within 5 minutes of each other as the bats start the night shift.

They look gangly and awkward and it's intriguing to think that they can fly but they've survived and thrived in the city.

Living on a hill full-time, must be fascinating and I reckon my next place is going to have a view. Not quite decided on whether it's going to be a view of mountains, sea or city but the openness of the horison is breathgiving. The only snag is my Smart car needs a run up to get up the driveway, lol.

Speaking of running,  a long time running friend invited a few of us round for a coffee and a catch up. It was very pleasant and between us we had over 50 Comrades marathon starts. At the moment I'm not even doing my 5km jog so I don't feel like a runner at all but it was encouraging to talk about past events and races for a while.

Then I was out watching the hadedas return again while some gunshots rang out over the neighbourhood. Apparently an attempted burglary somewhere. Phew, living in Johannesburg is full of contrasts.