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.