In Touch With Nature – Southern yellow billed hornbill #nature #wildlife #birds

Posted: June 24, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 53 Comments

During a recent trip to Pilanesberg Game Reserve, I was lucky enough to have a great sighting of a Southern yellow billed hornbill.

Southern yellow billed hornbill

A good-looking chap, I have a long yellow

and downward curved beak. My beak is huge

in comparison with my body. At approximately

90 millimetres long, it accounts for up to

one sixth of my body length. I have a casque,

like all my fellow hornbills, but mine is small.

My beak is so big, it intrudes on my frontal

vision and my first two neck vertebrae are

fused together. I have a long tail, long eyelashes,

and stubby legs and toes. My front three toes

are fused together near the base. My eyes are

usually a lovely yellow surrounded by pink skin.

***

My meals are interesting and varied. I like to enjoy

a selection of termites, beetles, larvae, grasshoppers,

and caterpillars. Delicious! A dessert of berries, fruits,

nuts, and other birds’ eggs is always welcome.

If possible, I supplement my diet with small mammals.

Mealtimes are when my useful beak comes into play.

I use it like a pair of forceps, grasping my food between

its tips and tossing it back into my throat. My stubby

tongue helps me to swallow my food efficiently.

***

I am a loner, preferring my own company,

except during breeding season. At that time,

you will find me in a couple or small group.

Once I have mated, I am loyal to my partner,

staying with her and establishing a territory,

which I defend. We build our home together –

a nest in a natural cavity in a tree, cliff or

earth bank, between one and twelve metres

above the ground. I bring bark, leaves, and grass

to make a lining for our home. My wife seals

herself inside the nest, blocking the entry with

a wall made from her droppings and remains

of meals. I help by bringing mud for her to

build with. When she is finished, only a vertical

slit remains, running from the top to the bottom.

My family rely on me to feed them. I pass food

through this slit with my large beak. The nest

has good air circulation through convection.

My wife keeps it clean by forcibly expelling her

own and our babies’ droppings through the slit.

My babies, numbering between two and six,

are born naked, with beautiful pink skins. We

do our best to feed them and keep them safe.

In the event of an attack by a predator, my wife

and children make use of the long escape tunnel

built into the nest, to escape. Once our children

are half-grown, my wife breaks out of the nest.

She helps me feed them. The babies are clever,

rebuilding the wall on their own. My wife and I

continue to feed them through the slit until

they are grown. Then they break out and fly

away. Ready to take on the world on their own.

A few more photographs of the Southern yellow billed hornbill we saw.

Picture caption: I like this photograph where the bird is facing into the sun. You can see its eyes clearly.

A short Youtube video (not mine) of the call of the Southern yellow billed hornbill:

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3

In Touch With Nature – Cheetah cubs and the numerous challenges they face #Cheetahs #cubs #photographs

Posted: May 28, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 61 Comments

Picture caption: Banner for In Touch With Nature featuring a lion lying down

Cheetah cubs are known for their adorable, fluffy appearance but, sadly, they face a high mortality rate in the wild. Only 10% of cheetah cubs survive to adulthood in the bushveld due to various factors including predators and environmental changes.

Picture caption: Cheetah cub of about twelve weeks old. It still has the silvery white fur mantle

Picture caption: Frontal shot of a cheetah cub aged twelve weeks

Cheetahs do not form lasting pair bonds so once mating occurs, a relatively brief process of no longer than one hour, the male departs. Female cheetahs assume full responsibility for the pregnancy and care of the cubs. The pregnancy lasts between ninety and ninety-five days and during this time the female continues to hunt and see to her nutritional needs and those of her developing cubs. As the birth approaches, the female seeks isolation and a suitable birthing location. This period of solitude is necessary as cheetahs do not share cub-rearing responsibilities.

Picture caption: A female ‘mother’ cheetah

Cheetahs usually have litters of three to six cubs which are born blind and weighing between two hundred and three hundred grams. Cheetah cubs have a thick silvery-grey mantle down their back which helps camouflage the babies by imitating the look of the aggressive honey badger. This deception is aimed at deterring predators such as lions, hyenas, leopards, and eagles who all kill cheetah cubs. A day or so after the birth, the mother has to leave the cubs in order to hunt for herself so she can continue to feed and care for the cubs. This is a dangerous time for the cubs as they are left unprotected. For the first six weeks of their lives the cubs remain behind while their mother hunts. She moves them from one secluded hiding place to another in order to avoid detection by predators.

Picture caption: Mom and twelve week old cubs feeding

At about six weeks, the cubs begin following their mother as she travels around looking for prey. During the first few months, the mother and cubs can’t move far or fast, so they are at their most vulnerable. This is the period when cub fatalities are highest. This is the time when the cubs learn life skills for their survival.

At approximately three months old, the cubs lose their ‘honey badger’ mantle and by one year they are hunting with their mother. At about eighteen months old, the cubs leave their mother. The cubs usually stay together for a few months while they hone and perfect their hunting skills. When the adolescent females start maturing, dominant males will chase their brothers away.

Picture caption: Older cheetah cubs (approximately one year) feeding on a baby impala kill

Picture caption: A shot of the same cheetah cubs

This video is of a cheetah kill. Don’t watch it if you are squeamish.

Tiny cheetah cubs enjoying a kill:

This poem, Around the Bend, is from my latest poetry collection, Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna, available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Butterflies-Poetry-Southern-African-ebook/dp/B0F2SDF2GW

Around the Bend

The dirt road stretches

Towards the distant horizon

What marvel lies beyond

The bend; long white fur

Catches the sunlight

Is it a honey badger?

No, its cheetah cubs

Their silvery-grey mantle

Effective camouflage

They’re enjoying breakfast

An impala kill by mama

Cheetah feast

Note: Cheetah cubs mimic honey badgers in appearance. They have a thick silvery-grey mantle running down their backs that gives them the appearance of a honey badger. This is a form of camouflage and makes the cubs look like an animal known for its fierce and fearless nature. Cheetah cubs are at risk of being eaten by most other predators so this honey badger disguise acts as a deterrent to potential predators giving them a better chance at survival.

Picture caption: Cover of Burning Butterflies by Robbie Cheadle

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Cheetah, world’s fastest land mammal #cheetah #Intouchwithnature #southernAfricanwildlife

Posted: April 23, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 65 Comments

Picture caption: In Touch with Nature 2025 banner featuring a black-maned lion

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal. At their top speed to 70 mph, they advance 23 feet (7 meters) in a single stride and complete 4 strides every second. This top speed can only be maintained for approximately 30 seconds.

Fourteen reasons why cheetahs are so fast

Aerodynamic body shape – a cheetah’s body is slender and designed for swift, unyielding motion. Watching a cheetah run is like watching a dancer glide across a stage.
Long, flexible spine – as a cheetah speeds up, its spine stretches and contracts giving each leg an incredibly long reach.
Muscle power – cheetahs are sprinters. Their muscles are packed with fast-twitch fibres to allow for short burst of explosive speed.
Large nasal passages – the cheetah has large nasal passages which provide for plenty of oxygen during sprints.
Tail for balance – the cheetah’s long and muscular tail acts like a rudder, allowing it to steer and balance at high speeds.
Powerful leg muscles – the cheetah’s powerful leg muscles catapult the animal forward to achieve high speed dashes.
Clawed feet – cheetah’s have semi-retractable claws that work like cleats, digging into the earth for a better grip.
Non-slip pads – cheetahs have unique paw pads that are rough and textured to provide maximum grip, so they don’t slip.
Fast acceleration – a cheetah can accelerate from zero to sixty in three seconds.
Excellent vision – cheetah’s have extraordinary vision which allows them to plan their attack with precision and track movements even at high speed.
Lightweight build – the cheetah’s lean build allows for quicker acceleration and sustained speed.
Efficient energy use – cheetahs take power naps between sprints allowing them to recharge for the next burst of speed.
Powerful heart and lungs – The heart and lungs of a cheetah are larger and more efficient than those of other cats, ensuring a constant supply of oxygen to their muscles.
Swift reflexes – the cheetah’s swift reflexes allow for split-second decisions and adjustments during a chase.

Picture caption: Male cheetah walking on top of a rock in the morning sunshine

Picture caption: Male cheetah sitting on a rock at Madikwe Game Reserve

Picture caption: Male cheetah standing on a rock in the morning sunshine

Picture caption: Male cheetah on the move, walking down off the rock.

My YouTube video of this cheetah stretching:

My YouTube video of a juvenile cheetah walking through the bush:

The following syllabic poem is from my book, Lion Scream, Syllabic Poetry About Southern African Wildlife:

Flat Cat

Barely discernible
Dark spots on tawny fur
She lies nonchalantly, blending into veld
Of vibrant golden hues
Dappled with shadows
***
Raising a sluggish head
She appears awake
Gives an impression of careful surveillance
But it’s an illusion
Her eyes tightly closed
***
Yawning, sharp teeth exposed
Then over she rolls
Head dropping down, she settles back into sleep
Almost disappearing
Flat cat in the grass

My YouTube reading of Flat Cat:

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Nyala antelope #southernAfricanwildlife

Posted: March 26, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Nyala Antelope, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read | 88 Comments

The Nyala is a spiral horned antelope native to southern Africa. It is the antelope with the highest sexual dimorphism (differences between male and female of the species). This is easy to see in the photographs and videos I’ve shared in this post so look out for the rusty or rufous brown coats of the females and juveniles and the dark brown or slate grey coat of adult males. Females and juveniles also have ten or more white vertical stripes on their sides which the stripes are greatly reduced or completely absent in the adult males. The males are significantly larger than the females.

Picture caption: Female Nyala with vertical white stripes

Picture caption: Above and below are pictures of a male Nyala

The Nyala is a shy animal and is usually seen in the early morning and the late afternoon when it browses, feeding on foliage, fruits, and grasses. They live in thickets within dense and dry savannah woodlands and are usually found in single-sex or mixed family groups of up to ten animals. These antelope are not fast runners, and their camouflage is their main defense against predators.

The main predators of the Nyala are lions, leopards, African wild dogs, and humans. The males are highly prized as game animals, and they are often victims of poaching. Human settlement is also encroaching on their habitat resulting in a declining population although they are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Nyalas have a special relationship with the baboons and vervet monkeys with whom they share the woodlands. They eat any fruit dropped by these primates and also react to any alarm calls made by primates from their advantageous viewing points in the trees. The baboons and monkeys also benefit from the relationship as Nyala have exceptional hearing, smell, and sight. When a Nyala spots danger, it gives off a striking alarm call sounding a bit like a barking dog. This warning also serves the primates and other creatures sharing their habitat.

Interestingly, Nyalas are not territorial. They wander about in groups and do not try to protect any areas from other creatures.

Nyala buck have an aggressive way of breeding. Firstly, the males fight for dominance, crashing into each other with their sharp horns acting like swords. The horns often draw blood. The bulls fight until one backs down by walking away as a sign of submission. These battles can be fatal if the wounds become infected or if the bull is concussed. The winning bull then slowly dances within the group of females, using strange, stuttering movements and raising its head to show off its white underfur.

When a female is on heat, the male follows her on foot, pushing his nose between her legs. He gets excited and buts her hindquarters right off the ground. If the female is interested, she stops walking. The male then walks around her and presses her head down before he mounts her. Gestation is 220 days and ewes can conceive from the age of 14 months.

Picture caption: Close up of a young male Nyala

Picture caption: Close up of a female Nyala

YouTube video of Nyala herd comprising of young males and females:

Male Nyala licking his legs YT video:

YT video of a Nyala male feeding:

The Fire Part 1

Flamboyant performer
Sun takes final bow
Pitch black curtains descend; concealing the stage
Campers assemble fire
Restraining darkness
***
Wood ignites, flames crackle
Illuminating
Nocturnal animals materialise
Skulking in deep shadow
Bright eyes glittering
***
Feeding ravenous blaze
An essential task
Stopping potential diners from helping themselves
To a convenient
Snack of arms or legs

The Fire Part 2

Dawn makes her grand entrance
Painting the sky red
Men prepare to depart, water smothers fire
Murky vapour billows
Dark ashes sodden
***
Everything orderly
The campers move on
Single flickering coal smolders unnoticed
Mutely clinging to life
Nurtured by the breeze
***
Dry leaves fall stealthily
Embracing ember
Sustenance provided; leaves burst into flame
Cunningly building strength
Destruction ensured

These poem duo is from my book, Lion Scream, Syllabic Poetry About Southern African Wildlife, available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

Picture caption: Promotional banner for Lion Scream

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of sixteen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of three poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Black-backed Jackals #SouthernAfricanwildlife #Intouchwithnature

Posted: February 26, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 95 Comments

This month, I am introducing you to the black-backed jackal, one of my favourite creatures to see in the bush. They are incredibly quick so getting a decent photograph is difficult. On our last bush trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve in Kwa-Zulu Natal, one decided to post beautifully for me and I got some amazing pictures of this small dog-like creature.

The black-backed jackal, also called the silver-backed jackal, is a medium sized canine native to eastern and southern Africa. These animals are known for their cunning and daring and are sometimes seen nipping into a lion kill and stealing a choice morsel. The black-backed jackal feeds on small mammals, reptiles, birds, eggs, carrion and fruit. They are scavengers but also hunt in their own right.

Five interesting facts about black-backed jackals:

These creatures are highly vocal. In the early evenings, individuals frequently make high, wailing calls to one another until an unearthly chorus builds up. They also make a continuous yapping sound when tailing a predator like a lion or a leopard, often giving the predator away to its potential prey.
Fossil deposits have revealed that the black-backed jackal is one of the oldest known dog species. It has remained in its current form for up to 2,5 million years.
Black-backed jackals are monogamous and form life-long pair bonds. Another interesting fact is that the youngsters from the prior year’s litter often stay around to help their parents raise their next lot of pups before setting out on their own breeding adventure.
Black-backed jackals are one of the most significant vectors of rabies in southern Africa. They have been associated with epidemics with occur in four to eight year cycles.
In Khoikhoi folklore, the black-backed jackal frequently travels with the lion which is usually outwits due to its higher intelligence. You can read one of these stories here: https://sacred-texts.com/afr/saft/sft09.htm

Picture caption: Black-backed jackal frontal view

Picture caption: Black-backed jackal side view

Picture caption: Black-backed jackal getting ready to bolt

Picture caption: Black-backed jackal close up

My YouTube video of a black-backed jackal up close and personal:

Jackal Love

A black backed jackal couple
Dash across the road
Happy to spend his life in monogamy
He courts his future bride
And they mate for life
***
“What would you like, my dear
for your wedding feast?
How about a yummy dung beetle or two?
Or some tasty locusts?
A meal for a king”
***
Life couldn’t be better
For the newly weds
Then the lion pride makes a wildebeest kill
Leftovers for dinner
When they are finished

The above poem is from my poetry collection, Lion Scream: Syllabic Poetry about Southern African Wildlife available from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – African’s most unusual bird of prey – Ode to a Secretary Bird #southernafricanwildlife #birds #poetry

Posted: January 22, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, Birds, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Poetry, Writing to be Read | Tags: African Wildlife, Birds, In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Secretary Bird, Video, Writing to be Read | 68 Comments

During our recent trip of Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, we had a good sighting of a secretary bird roosting in a tree. That sighting prompted the creation of this poem which tells you all about this fascinating bird.

Ode to a Secretary Bird

My mouth smiles, a grin spreading from ear to ear

When I spy the Secretary Bird perched in a tree

It looks around, hoping its favourite food will appear

A slithering snake its equivalent of scones and tea

An eagle type body perched atop legs like a crane

Giving it a height of up to 1.3 meters; tall for a bird

Crazy feather spikes surround its face – a bad hair day

Or does it think it’s a lion with a shaggy black mane

During a courting ritual, its frog-like call is heard

The rest of the year, a calm silence holds sway

Picture caption: Secretary bird with its black crest up. Picture by Robbie Cheadle

***

Breeding usually takes place once in a year

During spring and summer when food is plentiful

The male helps to incubate the eggs, he’s quite a dear

Mating with one female for life, he’s also faithful

Preferring to stay grounded, it will fly if it must

Legs sticking out behind it in a ridiculous way

Outside of mating or nesting, it does its thing alone

When it needs to run, you only see a cloud of dust

With a wingspan of two metres, it creates a great display

Living out its life within a fifty square kilometre zone

Picture caption: Secretary bird stretching in an acacia tree. Picture by Robbie Cheadle

***

Grey tailcoat and dark knee-length pants its claim

To male secretary status – it even has goose-quill pens

Carried behind its ears, the combined cause of its name

Also called ‘Devil’s horse’ by its traditional African friends

In honour of the great speed at which it hunts its prey

Including reptiles, amphibians, and mammals like rats

And venomous snakes which it beats to death on the ground

Popular due to their diet, people encourage them to stay

At keeping land free of vermin, they’re better than cats

Once they were numerous, but they no longer abound

Picture caption: Secretary bird in an acacia tree. Picture by Robbie Cheadle

***

This bird’s endangered classification mankind’s great shame

Along with its relatives, buzzards, vultures, and harriers

The fault of human greed and selfishness, nothing else to blame

I’m grateful some are protected behind fences and barriers

An important feature in the South African coat of arms

It’s chest a protea, also endangered or vulnerable to extinction

Powerful legs formed by a crossed knobkierie and long spear

Symbolism as the protector of the nation one of its many charms

You’d expect its status to afford it a measure of distinction

The loss of this messenger of the heavens not something people fear

A fascinating YT video featuring a secretary bird (not my video):

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Christmas Special: Japanese Macaque (Snow Monkeys) #snowmonkeys #Japan

Posted: December 25, 2024 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Travel | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Japan, Robbie Cheadle, Snow Monkeys, Writing to be Read | 47 Comments

Picture caption: Snow monkeys in the thermal spa

For my final In Touch With Nature post of 2024, which happens to fall on Christmas Day, I am taking you 17 hours of flying time away from South Africa to Nagano in Japan (yes, the same place where the 1998 Olympic Winter Games were held).

Nagano is a very beautiful place and it is home to the Japanese Macaque or snow monkeys.

According to Wikipedia, snow monkeys are a terrestrial Old World monkey (primates in the family Cercopithecidae) species that is native to Japan. They live in areas where snow covers the ground for a significant part of the year. Snow monkeys are the only species of monkeys found in Japan and they are one of the big reasons I wanted to go to Japan when the opportunity arose (TC was offered a lead reviewer position in Tokyo for two weeks and I was expensive luggage – haha!).

We visited a wild snow monkey park in Jigokudani Yaen-koen (altitude 850 metres), located in the Valley of Yokoyu River in the northern part of Nagano. This is the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs.

These are pictures of Jigokudani Yaen-koen:

Snow monkeys have brownish grey fur, pink to red faces, and short, stumpy tails. The males weigh about 11.3 kg (25 lb) and the females weigh about 8.4 kg (19 lb). They generally move on all fours.

Snow monkeys are omnivorous and eat a variety of foods including approximately 213 species of plants, insects, bark, and soil. During the winters with heavy snowfall, the monkeys rely heavily on bark (the same as elephants during the Southern African winter which is quite interesting).

These are some of my photographs of the snow monkeys in the thermal spring:

Gallery photo caption: These are all snow monkey pictures I took with my iphone.

These are a few of the pictures I took with my camera. They are better, I think.

If you are interested in using any of my snow monkey or Mount Fuji photographs, they are available for free download from Unsplash here: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle

Two YouTube shorts of the snow monkeys:

Kaye and I wish you happy holidays and if you celebrate Christmas, may it be very merry.

A few pictures of the tree lights in Japan.

Picture caption: Tokyo tree lights street scene (I really like this picture)

Picture caption: Tokyo tree lights street scene

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – The African Spoonbill #Africanbirds #InTouchWithNature #poetry

Posted: November 27, 2024 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 46 Comments

Picture caption: Banner for in touch with nature featuring an elephant

Today, I am sharing about the African Spoonbill bird, which is found across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe using the format of a rensaku tanka poem. A rensaku is a series of tanka poems (syllabic poems using the form of 5/7/5/7/7) to tell a story.

I have included some of my photographs and videos to embellish the story.

African Spoonbill

Long tapering legs

Atop a pure white body

African Spoonbill

Red legs match its red eye mask

No crest adorns its sleek head

***

African Spoonbill

Named for its spatulate bill

Long and coloured grey

From side-to-side its bill swings

Open to catch tasty food

Picture caption: African Spoonbill with its long spatulate bill on display

***

Living in marshes

With open shallow waters

African Spoonbill

Hunts water loving creatures

Including fish and molluscs

***

African Spoonbill

Builds its nest in colonies

In trees or reedbeds

From sticks and reeds lined with leaves

And breeds during winter months

Picture caption: Picture of the African Spoonbill’s beak from the side

***

To woo a female

Males develop bright plumage

She then lays five eggs

African Spoonbill males help

With incubation and care

***

Unable to fly

African Spoonbill youngsters

Are dependent for

A twenty-day period

Before leaving their parents

My YouTube video of an African Spoonbill hunting for food with the typical swaying motion:

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost

https://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology

In Touch With Nature: Halloween special – Elephant graveyard: fact or fiction #InTouchWithNature #Elephants

Posted: October 23, 2024 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 60 Comments

Picture caption: Photograph of an elephant’s skull from Deposit Photos

What is an elephants’ graveyard?

According to legend, an elephants’ graveyard is a place where old elephants instinctively go when they reach a certain age. In essence, it is a place where old elephants are believed to go to die.

Fact or fiction?

The concept of an elephant’s graveyard is a myth. However, elephant remains are often found in specific areas due to their favourable geographics. Injured or older elephants often settle in areas with easy access to water and food leading to concentrations of carcasses in those areas. In addition, group killings by hunters have also led to the discovery of numerous bones in one spot. In these cases, the tusks of the elephants are missing.

The concept of an elephant graveyard first appeared in The Ivory Child by Sir Rider Haggard (the 12th of the 18 Allan Quatermain adventures). This is a short extract of Haggard’s description of the elephant graveyard:

“Ten minutes or so more brought us to the eastern head of the lake, where the reeds whispered in the breath of the night wind like things alive. As I expected, it proved to be a bare, open space where nothing seemed to grow. Yes, and all about me were the decaying remains of elephants, hundreds of them, some with their bones covered in moss, that may have lain here for generations, and others more newly dead. They were all old beasts as I could tell by the tusks, whether male or female. Indeed about me within a radius of a quarter of a mile lay enough ivory to make a man very rich for life, since although discoloured, much of it seemed to have kept quite sound, like human teeth in a mummy case. The sight gave me a new zest for life. If only I could manage to survive and carry off that ivory! I would. In this way or in that I swore that I would! Who could possibly die with so much ivory to be had for the taking? Not that old hunter, Allan Quatermain.

Then I forgot about the ivory, for there in front of me, just where it should be, just as I had seen it in the dream-picture, was the bull elephant dying, a thin and ancient brute that had lived its long life to the last hour. It searched about as though to find a convenient resting-place, and when this was discovered, stood over it, swaying to and fro for a full minute. Then it lifted its trunk and trumpeted shrilly thrice, singing its swan-song, after which it sank slowly to its knees, its trunk outstretched and the points of its worn tusks resting on the ground. Evidently it was dead.”

You can read The Ivory Child for free on Project Gutenberg here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2841/2841-h/2841-h.htm.

The concept of an elephants’ graveyard was then popularized in some films, including Disney’s The Lion King.

Do elephants mourn their dead?

Yes, elephants do mourn their dead. They also mourn any elephant bones they come across during their long marches. They gather around and touch the dead or bones with their sensitive trunks for long periods of time.

Elephant mothers have been known to lift the bodies of their dead calves up with their trunks and put them in a place where the body is then covered with twigs, sticks, and dirt. The other female members of the herd assist in this ritual.

On a happier note, here are a few pictures of elephant calves that I saw during my recent trip to Madikwe Game Reserve:

Picture caption: A large bull swaggering down the road.

Picture caption: Here is the same elephant with his crown jewels on display.

Picture caption: This lovely lady is having breakfast

Picture caption: My latest acrylic painting called Autumn Elephant.

The above painting is in Michael and my new children’s book called Sesi says goodbye to Granny. The ebook is available for preorder from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/goodbye-Granny-Southern-African-Adventures-ebook/dp/B0DKCD2Y7X

I created this ebook in landscape orientation because that better suited the pictures. It was a difficult process and the cover doesn’t show on Amazon. This is the cover:

Picture caption: Cover for Sesi says goodbye to Granny. Drawing by Robbie Cheadle in oil pastels.

Picture caption: This is the back cover with the blurb which says: Sesi the elephant calf is feeling sad. Granny, the herd matriarch, has left as she can no longer keep up with the other elephants. Sesi is anxious about what will happen to Granny. She also wonders who will look after the herd and see to their needs. Includes illustrations, photographs, links to video footage of elephants, and fun facts about elephants.

I am now battling with the Zone over the print book. Watch this space.

Extract from Amahle’s Demon

I love elephants and they fascinate me. So much so, that my short story in Midnight Garden is also about an elephant. I wasn’t able to prepare a post for the recent tour due to my aunt’s lengthily illness (she is much better now), so I’m sharing a short extract here.

“The crunch of steps on the gravel path outside the elephant enclosure caused Amahle to look up. A young man was approaching, his stride long and loose. His broad smile displayed a set of large, straight teeth that shone whitely against the dark skin of his round face. He wore the khaki uniform of an elephant carer.

“Amahle,” the familiar voice greeted her. “I’ve brought you a treat.

Out of the corner of her left eye, Amahle saw an apple moving towards her on the outstretched palm of Themba, her primary carer.

Taking the apple, Amahle crunched it with relish, apple juice squeezing out from between her large, flat molar teeth. The man’s arm reached out again to stroke her soft trunk.

“Hello, Amahle,” Themba said. “I see you’ve been enjoying …”

Through blurry eyes, Amahle saw a snake approaching. Backing away from the potential threat, she flapped her ears in distress. Her left foot rocked up and down, kicking up a cloud of red dust.

The snake disappeared. Not knowing where it had gone, Amahle raised her trunk and trumpeted loudly.”

Picture caption: Cover of The Midnight Garden anthology, edited by Kaye Lynne Booth.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost

https://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology

In Touch With Nature: The rare and beautiful brown hyena #brownhyena #Intouchwithnature

Posted: September 25, 2024 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 58 Comments

During my recent trip to Madikwe Game Reserve, I was truly privileged to see a brown hyena. Brown hyena are rare, their status is near threatened and their population is decreasing. They are also secretive and solitary scavengers who are nocturnal. Generally, the only sign I see of brown hyena activity is their footprints in the morning dew.

Brown hyenas have pointed ears and striped legs with a dark brown to black shaggy coat. The shoulders and neck are lighter in colour. Brown hyenas are smaller than spotted or laughing hyenas, standing at 0.8 metres at the shoulders and weighing approximately 40 kilograms. They have a long cream-coloured mane which extends from the back of their necks to their shoulder blades. Their legs have brown and grey bars.

Picture caption: My photograph of a brown hyena

The brown hyena is a carnivore but is mainly a scavenger, feeding on the carcasses of large herbivores killed by other animals. It supplements its diet with insects, birds’ eggs, and will fruits and will occasionally kill small animals. Brown hyenas have powerful jaws and young hyenas can crack the leg bones of an small antelope in five minutes. Their teeth and jaws deteriorate with age and dental wear.

Brown hyenas live in small clans ranging from a breeding pair and their young to groups of several mature males and females. The clan defends its territory as a group but they do not forage as a group. Brown hyenas live in thick bushes, deserted Aardvark burrows or caves.

Brown hyenas mark their territory by ‘pasting’, a process whereby the hyena deposits secretions from its large anal gland on vegetation and boulders. The anal gland is located below the base of the tail and produces a black and white paste. I have seen this pasting in various places during safaris in the game reserve.

Picture caption: This is the cave system where the brown hyena family were living. The parents have now left and the young hyena males are living alone.

Picture caption: Another photograph of the brown hyena we saw.

This is not my video but it is interesting. A brown hyena chases a leopard up a tree.

I wrote a song parady recently about the brown hyena and the fact they do not laugh like the spotted hyena. You can read it here: https://roberta-writes.com/2024/09/06/roberta-writes-thursday-doors-and-dverse-just-for-laughs-madikwe-brownhyenas-songparody/

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

Want to be sure not to miss any of Robbie’s “In Touch With Nature” segments? Subscribe to Writing to be Read for e-mail notifications whenever new content is posted or follow WtbR on WordPress. If you found it interesting or entertaining, please share.

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by Midnight Roost: Weird & Creepy Stories and WordCrafter Press.

20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare.

On sale now for only $4.99

June 15 – August 31,2024

https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost