We feel tremendously privileged to know some nature specialists who are founts of knowledge. Luckily, they are also amazing human beings who share their wisdom and their knowledge. Birds of a feather flock together. As this story is about our birding experiences over the years, that seemed like an apt segue.

When our daughter was 21 days old, she had her first day out birding! At that tender age her interest was really limited to sleep and milk. Mine was only just slightly broader, but the emphasis was heavily on sleep. Connor, though not quite three years yet, had a wild and abundant curiosity with a hint of creativity. Murray was excited to have an opportunity to learn from one of the best and to be out in the field. He has an insatiable thirst for learning and an exceptional ability to retain information. It is both admirable and intimidating. Our children have this, too, in various ways – it is no less impressive with them.

We had just returned home from Swakopmund where we introduced our new baby to family and friends and to rest after her dramatic entry into the world. She met everyone and we did very little resting.

My parents and family friends came to visit us shortly after our return, as there had been some amazing rainfalls in the middle of February and it meant that fauna and flora would be changing rapidly. There is nothing more magical than a desert transforming after rain.

This day was reserved for raptor trapping and ringing – an exciting process, which would allow us to catch and assess them, as well as ring them for record-keeping and data collection. One tool that is used to catch raptors is a bal-chatri: a small wire cage, with an endless number of self- tightening, noose-like strings attached. A mouse or rat is placed in the bal-chatri to lure the raptors in. Once they come to grab the bait they get entangled in the strings, unable to fly off. This is where the ringer comes in, with (hopefully) gloved hands, and untangles the bird, while ensuring it can’t take off. Birds are measured, weighed, the condition is checked and they are ringed. The data and ring number are noted, and then the bird is free to fly away. Should it be caught again, the data can enable us to see how far the bird has gone, where it has come from and other interesting facts.

This was one of the first times we had gone out and, as mentioned, the degrees of excitement among us varied.

A significant amount of time was spent getting ready, prepping equipment and having discussions on how, why and what to expect. The rains in mid-February had created a tapestry of shades of green all across the desert.

Connor was beyond excitement at the prospect of catching a bird, but most of all the bal-chatri enchanted him. He was trying to figure out how it worked, where the loops came in and how the mouse wouldn’t be able to escape. He had a small plastic duck he was playing with and tested how the contraption worked with that. Almost as exciting as when a real bird was caught later!

All systems go, as calmly as possible, so as to minimize all stress on the bird and get the data while enjoying the process.

Murray, with guidance from our friend, was hands on. At this stage he was learning the ropes so to speak, keenly paying attention and absorbing it all. Connor watched every step, and asked a myriad of questions. There is so much valuable data which we never think of, the feathers have a grading system and there are ways of placing birds in an age category.

Birding has been in our lives over the years, albeit on the periphery at times. While Connor has continued to have an interest and a curiosity for birding and the ins and outs, Grace has taken to it with a passion and with understanding. Perhaps this was the trip where the foundation for the love of birding was subconsciously cemented? At any rate, the experiences we have been able to share with our children are a true privilege. TNN