I love the Big Five just as much as the next person, but I think there are quite a few little guys in the SA animal kingdom that are equally as iconic. Undoubtedly, the endemic Cape Sugarbird must be included in this list!
With a larger-than-life attitude that rivals that of the biggest beasts in the country, these gregarious, busy birds (no lion-ing around!) are a treat to encounter. The males can frequently be seen strutting their long-tailed stuff, defending their territory and their One True Love while she tends to their brood (Sugarbirds are monogamous and the female incubates the eggs alone - pfft!). These dramatic duels are quite something to behold, especially since they take place in the presence of royalty:
All hail the monarch of the floral kingdom, our National flower and one of the oldest blooms in the world (think Dinosaur-old!). All hail the Protea! The vast Proteaceae family is as diverse as it is strikingly beautiful, with the King Protea being the largest (think dinner-plate-large!). As a specialist nectar feeder, certain Proteaceae provide the Cape Sugarbird’s staple diet (although they snack on insects too), while in turn, the birds play an important roll in pollinating these magnificent flowering plants. Truly a match made in heaven!
If you’re like me, and the image of a Sugarbird, paired with a protea makes your toes currrl in delight, do yourself a favour and go check out Rozanne Fleet’s Instagram account (@feathersoffranschhoek). Her photographs of birds ‘dancing’ in the fynbos are truly astonishing! It was while scrolling through her incredible collection (gasping at practically every image!) that I fell in love with the duelling duo that served as reference for my latest painting, aptly entitled “The Duel”.
The double-trouble painting proved to be a massive undertaking, but a very rewarding one indeed! It forms part of the collection that I’m currently working on, with “Move!” as theme. It will feature in my 2025 wildlife calendar along with 11 other equally dynamic artworks (are you using your 2024 wildlife calendar? Let me know by completing this quick survey, and you could win next year’s calendar!). Apart from that, I also have only 20 limited edition, fine art prints available in my online shop. The original watercolour piece has already found its loving forever home.
And now, without further ado… Step aside, Big Boys! These little guys are just as much a national treasure! And they're willing to fight for it...!
Enjoy some behind-the-scenes action of me duelling with “The Duel”:
