Wednesday 18 April 2012

Howard : Live from Africa



Due to popular request I am including a video clip of me taking an early morning stroll and keeping a beady eye open for bugs. If you listen carefully, you will hear the words "Oh, what a wonderful morning!" Somehow, alas, everybody does not agree with me about early morning strolls and singing. Some animal types, it seems prefer to sleep in!!!  I had a close encounter of the crocodile kind in one of my adventures which is described in terrifying detail in my book!

With thanks to  Jul 20, 2008. She says:
A hadeda ibis at Pete's Pond in Botswana calls, and we soon see why. ;-) Seen on National Geographic's WildCam Africa.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Howard and Friend



Howard (left) and friend in earnest consultation on the contents of the menu at MacBugs Takeout. There are frogs in abundance, also crickets and a variety of crunchy bugs. The tranquility of  MacBugs belies the gravity of the task at hand. After all, feeding is serious business, and requires an acquired and frequently honed skill to select and spear a defiant frog. 

In the Beginning


The raucous, pre-historic like call of the hadeda, is arguably the most recognised bird call in Africa, south of the Sahara. The call of the hadeda is typically heard in the pre-dawn glow as the sun transforms the rose coloured hue on the horizon and scarlet fingers probe the sky to cast dew laden shadows on the forest and plains of the African bush veldt. It is perhaps the only bird call that sparks off, emotions of nostalgia and a irrepressible desire to be transported back in time to witness and walk among the herds of game, unspoilt bush and rivers. The quote from TV Bulpin, which heads up this blog, accurately and romantically captures the mood. Yet, there are the not so early risers that would happily hurl the coffee table at a squadron of hadedas as they skim the trees in decibel defiant unison en route to their favourite wetlands; and repeat the performance during the brief twilight hours before night returns.
This curious, in many ways comical looking bird that wades and strides through the wetlands and veldt with nonchalant abandonment,  and would be the envy of any teenage rapper, has unnoticed reached iconic status in South Africa.
The kaleidoscope of insatiable curiosity, nostalgia, emotion evoking, amusing and demure character of the hadeda inspired the author to listen, admittedly first with great disbelief, and then with uninhibited enthusiasm to Howard Hadeda (Jnr).  His first adventure has now been recorded and will be launched in mid-June.

Monday 16 April 2012

Howard Hadeda Welcome

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Welcome to all my feathery and not so feathery, hairy and not so hairy, two-legged and four-legged, and yes my slithery friends. Great! you found my blog which I have just started and will be in full flight soon. I'm so excited.

Watch this space and learn all about who I am, where I come from, and more importantly............ my scary adventure to the Valley of Bones. 

My first beautifully illustrated book: "The Adventures of Howard the African Hadeda and the Valley of Bones", will be launched at the Cape Town Book Fair in the Cape Town Conference Centre  during June 15 - 17 th  2012. 

Don't miss it if you are in the vicinity of Cape Town.

And for now have a great Hadeda day!

Featherly regards,

Howard