...how hygienic birds are, as they preen themselves after every meal.
![103.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23zks2xnchcV6ExnCkPqjShPgkqUiHh6McKYfQSdEToU99Yz9hMztaSVyFq8yBPEbLFax.jpg)

This is a female Cape Spurfowl (Pternistis capensis) demonstrating a preening session to me, and I also have a new baby dove to show you.

All birds, from the smallest to the biggest, have the habit of preening (washing) themselves. Not only preening to wash themselves, but also to oil their feathers. Did you know that birds can oil their feathers? They have a little gland at the base of their tails, and they dip their beak into it to extract the oil that they stroke on their feathers. It is called a Uropygial gland. 

***The uropygial gland, informally known as the preen gland or the oil gland, is a bilobed sebaceous gland possessed by the majority of birds used to distribute the gland's oil through the plumage by means of preening. It is located dorsally at the base of the tail (between the fourth caudal vertebra and the pygostyle) and is greatly variable in both shape and size. In some species, the opening of the gland has a small tuft of feathers to provide a wick for the preen oil.*** 

[Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uropygial_gland)

So yeah, I have just shown you how birds can oil their feathers, and I think the part of a chicken that is called a parson's nose, is also that gland. 
![100.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/Eq3828puHyuFDXp39A4k4Pk139JyntLJGuUSDuXF47GVV35qb4Cjs6uqpxukNHappeH.JPG)

![102.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/Epzz7gt2fouG5XgRWmXi5ajHJH9TvBrHvM6iU8PVfnyLEoYwXJ1kfNVQMoRfMU1UBq6.JPG)

![107.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23zkn656S7F8uJFnE6Vn6g3E7r7fgUK96xJ2nFmvTfNZahMkLh3jrUXbhZgoo3Vtq6hYP.JPG)

I just googled a "parson's nose", and it does indeed produce preening oil on chickens. It also has other functions.

*Pygostyle is a skeletal condition in which the final few caudal vertebrae are fused into a single ossification, supporting the tail feathers and musculature. In modern birds, the rectrices attach to these. **The pygostyle is the main component of the uropygium, a structure colloquially known as the bishop's nose, parson's nose, pope's nose, or sultan's nose.** **This is the fleshy protuberance visible at the posterior end of a bird (most commonly a chicken or turkey) that has been dressed for cooking. It has a swollen appearance because it also contains the uropygial gland that produces preen oil.***

[Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygostyle#HeroSection)

Now, on a softer note, let me show you what was waiting for us at home. 

Look at the bottom left of the picture, and what do you see?
![163.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EopsQJ9i7ckaAyXkEYfAxDnm24jXgf5fRfY8Vb6eFP2m1ixg5enfTsoyHTjpyHsqMLd.JPG)

A baby Laughing Dove! (Spilopelia senegalensis). 
![167.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EoeEvhagSEmtmpB32f45BSydAPjLbYhNsG3xu7UGPMWanthyHFfSCaJK5XReBLdv5wr.JPG)

The amazing thing is, that the baby popped up onto the palisade fence, and I could pull the car into the garage. Then I had to use all my tact not to scare the baby as I walked back down the driveway to take photos of it. 
![168.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23wCC9fVMwVV2mYQ3a7ohM7EKzC8aGD6FTzWGVrPqchxMiwy6E2rG5Bh5xzjTsYvEdKj8.JPG)

It got so used to me, that it started preening itself, right in front of me. 
![169.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EokdXDkuh6XcDVBAMzMsjPwc32NNd5u6EbQh6Zx8nfXjVpZwRaZfEfE4svtj2od3uix.JPG)

I think that the baby watched the parents rushing here every afternoon at 5 pm to come and eat. So, the baby knew that it was safe to come here, and I bet that it will also come with the parents to come and eat. A problem that I have is that we have a pair of Ringneck doves that regard our front garden as their territory, and every time that the small doves come to eat, I have to stand guard to prevent the Ringneck's from attacking the smaller doves. We are looking forward to seeing the baby coming in with its parents to eat.  

I think the parents are still regurgitating the feed for the baby, and so it will take some time for the baby to start eating on its own. Just some of the adventures we have here at home, as nature loves us so much that it also now comes to our home instead of us having to drive out to visit in nature. Quite often a Cape Robin-Chat also flies into the garage after insects, and I have posted many other birds that visit here. 
Such is life.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting this post. 

Photography Lovers

Amazing to see...

...and whenever they gather like this, then there is food. 
![121.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/Eow9sEP6WUNC1oxwURgdPeRZ2ruz12EkjRsKWa2nVQC8ar9bzjKeMNj53By6F3CkzVr.jpg)

But not the food that you will think, as in this case it was Flying Ants.

Have you ever seen birds eating flying ants? If not, you will see, in this post below, and I am not talking about a few flying ants, but I don't want to give too much away. So, I will gently lead you into the action and then **I also have a video in** here to show you the flying ant nests. We were so lucky to get this, but fortunately I almost immediately knew that there was something special on show. 

Oh yes, they were eating something. 
![110.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23xp4L5WLYs4AP4QPPJoVHSscgQa5k9QzRXPJVUroFsUXvrzFWQaGetz5K72oQiViqmDi.JPG)

And then I saw what it was. 
![138.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23wgWerxhyveV34hw8rtKq2mr58YUyVMXoLrD4iUruHsNUXGUtgd2p5LXWzfQLrmgtKPA.JPG)

Then they moved around the big tree into the road, and the flying ants were flying around all over the place, but the birds seemed to concentrate on one specific area.  
![158.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23tSamLjd5r3WHKE8xsgMeu8DvfdNCVeFhoZoGhFuYdoieE9D4rVnpygXQPyzNkXLDL7Y.JPG)

**Below, you will see the area that they concentrated on.** 

I sauntered over, and voila there it was. The flying ants were emerging from their nests. 
![067.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23tmNDLV7UECV2D97cb35batRW1DdR6juJUwK4LCrX6GFxwQ13axgad3Lw3TZJebBDCUy.JPG)

![068.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/Eo6Lwy1djiAo343PT3NiREGHcLrzTY6vQMwSFLBQpLuQ3TdpUtXvEGgcwAELjE6mmJC.JPG)

As stated above, I made this video that will show you what was going on. 

https://youtu.be/8WPVpEGFhzg

There were also some nests next to the road. 
![097.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23uQvQJM1dHh83Rgds7d8oiLCbAN1LMNe6BVHbmapcj7hcG2X6hTtEYS3HtNuJ11a3vbq.JPG)

Other birds, such as this Cape Spurfowl, also joined in the feeding party. I have even seen a few doves and Cape Sparrows getting in on the action. 
![186.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23x1HhC8c7SAL7kkMvmjMZtesNFPVjXzxcEdu8YxqA21m3VmkmdE3BWpwkSNRF3j3WRGu.JPG)

And finally, the leader called for the starlings to take off, I think he was worried they would overeat and get sick. 
![147.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23y94ky6cEAgovc13hRwMHmwWJhEZwiDBSgTzTFEqy4wqgrYm9Bg67GtoNZXWVP3tDLjq.JPG)

What a special show, and we were at the right place at the right time. Not every day that one sees this, and the strange thing is that the flying ants normally breed out after a rain spell, but in this case, there was no rain for the past few days, so I don't know what urged the flying ants to emerge from their nests. But be it as it may, I was very happy to see this event.  
After a while, I also called my wife over to come and have a look. 

The Red-winged Starling specie name is (Onychognathus morio).

The Cape Spurfowl specie name is (Pternistis capensis).  

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the post.

Photos and video by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting this post. 

A flock of Starlings was gathering...

...and we have not visited here for a long time.
![210.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23wqkiiwFvy6kbN37eNpo9z9SWUHPJKYqghiE6RMnqCFGSdZqaTy8MHNrRZCwfYVZefNN.jpg)

Oh yeah! We even forgot how cheeky the birds are here, especially in spring as they have babies to feed.

This winter there was just no sun to even think about sitting outside with a mug of coffee, and so the waiters at the coffee house were so glad to see us again. Of course, everyone came with a question of where have you been, as we missed you guys. But now it is early spring, although we struggle with some more winter days, and on this day, we had sun with only a cold wind blowing. 








This is the female Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio), and she seemed to recognise us as my wife used to drop some crumbs under the table for all the birds. Even the Cape Sparrows came to look. Sadly, we had no crumbs. 
![211.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EoeJEb542tTApWU9z1cKMPpxwSk1o9jF1F7At3CJzyCCRCg7rbxvPdu8gtAU57dADSa.JPG)

![212.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EoeHKwPyYssx3ByDmr2nABzaVmvMT6e5KcnYDSiFy4g4fjPumEk9sJQ6gnYRAGWiKyg.JPG)

And then the boss man came to shake his head at us in disgust:)
![213.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EoyQ1pwmTfUP4qNd4V1Fke9FFiUnVJmPDbtRiAgKWHsyVWMWuP4xWThsSCowZ4n443h.JPG)

**Just a line break, and it is a great break.** 

Very seldom to get a male Malachite sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) in a singing action. 
![215.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23y8utHiMtmx14Mzc7XTCadoCXbqoETgVfQzwDNgqvjJAiSFi43oMTbQBKW7ixTsCU1ze.JPG)

**And here below we had something else.**

A juvenile Cape Robin-chat (Cossypha caffra) wanted a drink at the doggie bowl, but the bowl was empty.  
![205.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/EoCjXyDszpYMr8mxWWRZFJ55th3iAkceXguvKR5giyoN8SKwEtWNBMnSy5ZFF8pck4u.JPG)

He did not moan, and started searching for insects. 
![206.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23u6334bfGc49hBFsdFKLThYG1NMxMx9rn8TjLMR4mvnFRittvJJ9kLDY7LeTFj4gQ7c4.JPG)

**Finally, check out this brave little guy.** 

This is a Cape White-eye (Zosterops virens) that landed on the table next door, to give us the eye. Maybe he also wanted to ask why we had been away for so long:)  
![282.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/papilloncharity/23wgFbxEiUXnp7296NU1SxYfh63kGgz36LttnABdb2Tee52Q41f55U21aznDxvKAPcsXT.JPG)

So nice to be back again, and this is going to be a bumper spring. I know that in this season I will get the Malachite babies, and also many other bird species. As all of the migrating birds are also returning to breed, in preparation for the coming summer. At the end of summer, the babies will be strong enough to migrate with their parents to whichever country they come from. Normally from higher up in the African continent, even Europe and the Americas. 

  

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting this post. 

Amazing to see...

A flock of Starlings was gathering...

A visit to a coffee shop...