Birds on the High Veld
By E. M. ADDERLEY WHEN we decided to settle on the African high _veld, and build a house on a farm bare of trees or of any protection, we expected to miss the birds, always good companions on a lonely farm.
It must be something to do with our attractive garden fence, and all that it encloses, because from the very first they have never deserted us. Before the house was finished the South African swallows had itaken possession of the stoep, were building on every cross- beam, and the workmen had to dislodge them, even from the lintels of the doors. We have three kinds of .swallows, the migratory English ones, which visit us for our summer, arriving in October and November ; the South African, a bright metallic blue fellow, with an orange red head, a speckled throat, and a soft trilling song ; and the graceful pintails, more rare than the other two.
Besides the swallows, flocks of canaries descend on us, to feed on the grass-seeds. These are not of such a vivid yellow as the cage bird, and the hen is a very demure little grey person, seemingly contented (like few other females) to bask in the reflected gaiety of her husband's fine clothes.
The bishop birds hold conferences on the fence, too. They assemble regularly for the morning and evening sessions, with interruptions only for luncheon and tea, and " quick Ones " in the garden ! Among them there must be prelates of every degree and denomination. Some are bird archbishops, -scarlet from crown to gaiters. Others, the bishops, wear a black coat, with scarlet vest and ruff.
The yellow finks, birds like small golden parakeets, also congregate round the garden. Sitting on the wire, they will preen themselves for hours, flaunting their vivid beauty. ' one cannot admire their way of living. Vigilantly they watch every seed sown, each plant coming into fruit, when with their strong curved beaks they strip the rows of peas, mealies, and beans.
Our most charming friend is the honey bird. Making no gaudy display as he flits among the flowers, visiting the scarlet runners, the hanging pink cactus blooms, darting among the multi-coloured sweet peas, in spite of his quiet, busy ways, his striking blue green colouring stands out from every lovely background.
There are many others. A- pair of sprues-starlings brought up two families on one of the verandah pillars. The first brood was rather a failure, only one surviving out of four • hatched chicks. Quite undeterred, however, they tried again, though this time with fewer joyful nesting songs, and met with more success. The South African robin comes occasionally to see what he can find. He has an orange breast, instead of red, and is not such a cheery, cheeky individual as his English relation.
In years to come, when our trees are grown, we will make a sanctuary here, where all these birds, and many others, can mate and nest and rear their young, protected from human and feline marauders.
Some of them will destroy and thieve, but many work hard for us, harrying the armies of the insect world and keeping down pests. Besides, much can be forgiven them for their beauty.
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