Spotted Crake - The Big Twitch

"The thing that bonds us are those special moments. It's a private thing, but I think it's something we all share." [Todd Newberry on "why birders 'bird' "]

When this bird was first discovered you just knew the responding 'birding-quake' was going to resonate around the local birding community. I remember dropping the Discoverer a line of congratulations soon after the bird was first announced. Even then neither of us fully comprehended this opening of Pandora's Box. The bird in question - the rarely-seen Spotted Crake & better yet, at Marievale, close to Johannesburg, the sub-region's birding mecca.

That same day the first pilgrims arrived to pay homage and the bird obliged. By the close of the working-week sightings were more sporadic before the bird disappeared entirely by week's-end. Early Sunday morning, however, the bird was rediscovered far-enough away to explain why the bird had 'gone missing' in the first place. In retrospect the bird was probably in plain sight all along & therein lies the secret of this particular species. There is little doubt that members of the rallidae [rallids - a cosmopolitan group of small - medium birds] feature regularly in suitable habitat. Notwithstanding, unless birders walk the habitat, an activity not encouraged in the Code of Ethics, these tiny jewels tend to observe a retiring, clandestine routine.

Consequently when news broke of an active but sedentary Spotted Crake the ensuing rush was inevitable. I remember going about our business on that Sunday morning as Sunday-morning business usually demands and although we've seen a a handful of Spotted Crake here & elsewhere, the call was too loud to ignore. As these things go, of course, we were stopped for an imaginary traffic-offence and asked to give account of ourselves to the officer involved. The charge - 'communicating on a mobile device whilst in control of a moving vehicle'. The transgression - 'at that traffic light 50 m further back'. In the end the offending officer's name & rank proved sufficient persuasion to see us on our way. This delay, however, subsequently cost us spanking views of the bird; an injury to the psyche far worse than an open-zipper on closing-night.

Marievale - Spotted Crake twitch 2016

Although we had fleeting views we were left unsatisfied; an idea that tends to gnaw at a birder's soul like salt on cast-iron. We returned, yesterday, a week later for another crack. 

Unbeknownst to us, however, most of the interested community had decided to do the same. We were confronted with a sight I haven't seen in years - double rows of vehicles parked beyond, at & all the way back from where the bird was last seen. Cool winds of foreboding blew out of the east and for those who appreciate these things, retiring birds usually go to ground & the crake 'obliged' - endearingly-so and for long-enough to spoil breakfast. There's only so much fortitude in a mug of tea or coffee before the shakes begin in earnest. 

In the interim we'd left the site after the briefest of looks for places elsewhere in the sanctuary. It transpired that over the course of two weeks two [3?] other Spotted Crake had been recorded in the same vicinity. We went looking for them, away from the maddening crowd. Even so, we paid our insurance and begged a head's-up if the bird did in fact make an appearance. I remember saying to Alisha hours later that the wind had dropped sufficiently for the birds to start foraging. Within the time it takes to write this down the call came through- Spotted Crake! I can't say we wasted much time getting back to where we should have stayed all along but as it turns out we recorded two other species [Peregrine Falcon & Booted Eagle] arguably even 'rarer' in that habitat... Other, better birds were seen by another but that's a story for another time.

Rarities like these tend to draw the birding Illuminati out in the open and for a time these giants walk among ordinary men. Speaking to these individuals confirms my suspicion that most of us know less than nothing about anything and therein lies the quest for more if, in fact, we're partial to 'more' that is. An empty drum beats loudest and the same applies, quite clearly as it turns out, in the local birding community. I learnt more in an hour talking to one individual in particular than I have in years. Despite the camaraderie & the social aspect of this activity or *twitch [*to specifically travel for & target a particular bird considered rare or unusual], the opportunity to swap ideas with softly-spoken experts is unparalleled, particularly if the bird has shown well-enough for most of the party to relax and speak of other things.

I can't account for accurate visitor-numbers of course but I can speak for the three occasions we were on-site. During those three sessions no fewer than 300 people made the effort to see the crake. If the same numbers are extrapolated over the two applicable weeks, a number close to 750 might not be too outrageous. If the bird stays conspicuous and as reliable as its been, who knows where that number will fall.

Who moved the rocks?

As these things go & to balance the equation of goodwill perhaps, some negative aspects of this particular twitch need highlighting. It's no secret that the farming community has suffered a great deal recently. The severe drought is confirmed in the lowest recorded annual rainfall figures since 1904. As a result many farmers have seen their fortunes diminished / farms lost. These men & women are the backbone of our society & in these dire times a little foresight goes a long way. Fortunately in the last fortnight or so [coinciding with the arrival of the crakes perhaps?] we've had some general rain. Crops planted some time before have gained a small foothold & although relatively late in the season, may provide a yield in the months to come. This same rain muddied the gravel entrance road to the sanctuary and for the life of me it's hard to credit, but some ignorant bumpkin found the need to drive around the puddles and into the neighbouring farmer's lands; flattening some of his crops in the process. These four or five detours off-road is a shameful indictment of the birding community and an embarrassment. Amazingly some fool had removed the rocks the farmer had subsequently placed at the 'detour entrance / exits'; I assume to avoid more mud on the road.

In closing we came, we saw, we conquered even if the photos are fair-to-middling at best. The addition is just a singleton to our local list, no more important than the first or the second-to-last. We gathered; we engaged and we shared a common interest. Other birds were found, equally special of course and a consequence of concentrated eyes. Notwithstanding, this particular Spotted Crake will stay with us for as long as birds hold us in thrall and for not much more than the uncontaminated joy of seeing something rare. All the while the crake went about its business, quietly gathering food, wholly disinterested in the admiring-throng nearby & that, more than anything else, is the most important thing of all.