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Alfred Ezra—Rearing the Water ThicJc-Jcnee



to run rather than fly, especially if there is cover close at hand, and it

was this fact that enabled Mr. Webb to catch them—the only pair

he had ever seen. A tunnel-shaped net fixed in the evening on the track

where they ran when disturbed, enabled Mr. Webb to drive them both

underneath next morning. Some writers say that Water Thick-knees,

for some unknown reason, are attracted by crocodiles, specially on

Lake Victoria, where they may be seen frequently where these reptiles

are basking on the shore. They are lacking in parts of the shore where

there are no reptiles. Where these birds were caught, crocodiles were

quite numerous, so much so that Mr. Webb was not too happy when

wading across to the island, but luckily the water was clear enough

for him to see their whereabouts. Very little is known of these shy

and retiring birds in their wild state, as they are very seldom seen,

but it’s near relative the Bush Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis) is

not uncommon in certain districts where there is often thorn bush

scrub.


About six years ago I got the above pair of birds from Mr. Webb

and they have been in a large aviary with a good many other birds,

among them a pair of South African Crowned Plovers. They have

never attempted to nest till this year, when they started carrying

leaves and grass about the 8th July. They finished a sort of a nest,

consisting of small stones, leaves, and grass under a Cupressus. First egg

was laid on the 15th July and the second on the 17th. Only two eggs

laid. One egg was broken on the 24th, but the other one was hatched

on the 9th August. For the first few days the young one would lie

flat on the ground as soon as anyone approached it, pretending to be

dead. When about ten days old it began hiding in clumps of grass

and was very hard to find. The parents were ideal and looked after

their offspring beautifully. No birds or any of us were allowed to

approach it. If we tried to get near the young bird both the parents

attacked us with outstretched wings and violent hissing. The young

bird was reared on ants eggs, gentles, mealworms, and insectivorous

mixture to start with. When about a fortnight old it ate the stock

food, always devouring the meat first. These birds are very hardy

and good livers and perfectly harmless with other birds. I believe this

is the first time they have been reared in captivity.



