102



Ronald Stevens—Capturing Waterfowl



It was then the end of July—midwinter in South Africa-—-and the

Cape winter is not to be scoffed at when degrees Farenheit are con¬

cerned, particularly at night! The book referred to was written j

about thirty years ago, and I was told that the Cape winters had

become noticeably colder since then. However, I did see some Cape

Teal, Black Duck, and Cape Shelduck, which was some compensation

for travelling twelve hundred miles on that journey.


Before starting the Zululand trip I took a run up to make a pre¬

liminary survey of the best pans to work, and to find out what species

of duck were available before coming to any decision with regard to .

methods of trapping and obtaining permits. I found duck in tens

of thousands on the pans in the Ndumu country. About half of them

were Tree Duck, but still there were plenty of Red bill, Pochard, Dwarf

Geese, White-backed Duck, and a few Hottentot. On Tete Pan I

saw my first and only pair of Cape Shoveller. Then I hurried back to

Durban and was busy for nearly a fortnight making preparations.


On this last trek I was fortunate in having the company of my

friend, Mr. Harold Millar, the well-known South African ornithologist,

entomologist, and botanist. When we arrived in the duck country

we were disappointed to find that all the Whitebacks had gone, but

we were soon compensated by catching thirteen beautiful Dwarf

Geese. Although awkward on land these little birds proved them¬

selves able gymnasts, and it was through their climbing their wire¬

netting enclosure that we lost one. Then we caught twenty Redbills

and then, unhappily, Mr. Millar got fever, and as he became seriously

ill we had to break up the trip.


By 16th November last 1 was on a homeward-bound boat with

eight Cape Shelduck, which I had bought from farmers, two Knob¬

nosed Duck from the Pretoria Zoo, twenty Red-billed Pintail, and

ten Dwarf Geese, two, unfortunately, having died. It had taken

nearly a year to get these birds, and it had been a wonderful experience.


I wish I were starting all over again with the knowledge which I

now have.


The kindness and hospitality which South Africans so freely give

to visitors from overseas greatly added to the pleasure of the trip,

and I shall always feel grateful to the officials for their helpfulness.



