Birds of Silvermine #6: Cape Sugarbird
The cache is one of an additional 5 bird-themed caches added (with their kind approval) to ge0cath’s original 5 located along an adjacent trail to the south.
To Reach the Cache Location: park your cachemobile at S 34 5.429 E 18 25.239 Silvermine Gate 2 parking area which opens 08:00-18:00 daily. Ensure nothing of interest is visible and park near(er) the entrance for additional security. There is usually a security guard who patrols the area, but there have been occasional break-ins in the past – mainly on the road outside the gate where people have parked to enter before opening time.
Follow the main jeep track to the fork at S 34 5.970 E 18 25.812 taking the left branch to S 34 6.018 E 18 26.019 the start of a small path heading off and up to the left which continues past the first 5 Birds of Silvermine caches to eventually rejoin the jeep track @ S 34 6.226 E 18 26.706.
Follow the jeep track around a couple of bends to S 34 6.017 E 18 26.858 and take the path heading left (west) to the cache location. This is also your likely return route via the other 4 caches in this extension series, Fat Lady Shelter (+ cache), across Higher Steenberg Peak and then down Wolfkop Steps (or the alternative – across Wolfkop peak and then descent scramble) back to the start.
The Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer) is one of the 8 bird species endemic to the Fynbos biome of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.
The Cape sugarbird is a grey-brown bird that is easily recognisable by a spot of yellow under its tail and the very long tail feathers present in males. The male is 34–44cm long, while the shorter-tailed, shorter-billed, and paler breasted female is 25–29cm. Adult weight is 30-40g.
It makes a characteristic sound when flying as its main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, a frrt-frrt sound is made to attract females.
It is found throughout most of the fire driven ecosystem of the Fynbos in South Africa, the dominant vegetation type of the Cape Floral Region where there are flowering proteas and ericas.
It is most common in areas that have not burnt recently, and almost absent from recently burnt areas. It is also found in gardens in summer when most proteas are not in flower, but urban birds are associated with greater stress measures.
It is a specialist nectar feeder with a long, sharp beak and long 
brush-tipped tongue which are used to reach the nectar of various protea species for which it is a major pollinator as it can visit around 300 flowers daily (see videos here and here). Although its staple diet is nectar, it will also eat spiders and other insects.
The characteristic strong Cape winds may make feeding off protea heads difficult, but it has adapted to this with the development of sharp claws.
Pairs breed in winter when food supplies are ample and males set up territories in mature mountain stands of flowering Protea bushes, where they perform vocal displays to attract females. After breeding they become nomadic, moving to areas where food is available. It is monogamous and a solitary nester and the male defends his territory from other birds and predators.
The nest built by the female in 5-10 days, is an untidy cup-shape made of twigs, grass roots and pine needles, lined with protea down. It is placed in the fork or tangled branch of a protea bush or other large leaved trees.
The 1-2 eggs are incubated by the female which defends against predators by performing a distraction display in which it drops to the ground with drooping wings like it has been injured. The eggs hatch in 12-21 days and the young fledge after a further 18 days but are independent only after an additional 3 weeks. Life expectancy is around 7 years.
Predators of adults include White-necked raven. Chicks and eggs are preyed on by the small grey mongoose, rodents, other birds (eg. shrike and boubou) and the Olive house snake.
It has a characteristic grating, chipping, and twanging song (listen here).
See here for some (more) great photos.
