A bird in the hand

Walking slowly through the forest of the Harold Johnson nature reserve, birders looked and listened intently for its avian residents.
Avid birders congregated at the reserve for the bi-annual bird count early on Saturday morning. Organised by the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the count would not be possible without the help of  North Coast birders.
Wayne Johnston from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife supervised the count, which is part of a national bird count with the purpose of monitoring what species are in the area.
“It is mainly to see what we have got and if we are losing or gaining bird species,” said Johnston.
The survey takes place in summer and winter to keep track of migratory and resident birds.
We split into two groups and one group goes and does the quack count (water birds) and the other group moves through the forest area,” said Johnston.
“It really is just a nice leisurely walk, if we see or hear a bird, we mark it down on the count,” he said.
The reserve is around 100 hectares and runs onto the banks of the Tugela river. There are over 85 species of tree, over 200 birds and around 175 butterfly species. Other residents include smaller buck including impala and duiker, zebra and the elusive bush pig.
The reserve boasts beautiful views over the Tugela, has excellent facilities and is less than an hour’s drive from Ballito, making it an ideal getaway spot for trail walks and an afternoon braai for the family.
There are also two Anglo-Zulu war monuments- Fort Pearson and the Ultimatum Tree, which add to the attraction of the small reserve.
The Ultimatum Tree is the site where the British delivered an ultimatum to the Zulu King Cetswayo’s representatives in 1878. They demanded that the Zulu army disband and the King swore allegiance to Queen Victoria.
Fort Pearson was a small fortification erected by the British on the site where they crossed the Tugela river in order to invade Zululand. War broke out just a month after the ultimatum was issued.