Conservation
Bird ringing at Fynbos
The BDI (Biodiversity and Development Institute ) exists to create opportunities to do fundamental and applied biodiversity and development research, incorporating both science & humanities perspectives. Their field ranges across all mammals, insects reptiles and birds. The latter is where we have been most fortunate to intersect with BDI. This is the second year that…
Read MoreThe Mountain Road
On our first visit to the farm old man Loubser took us up the road in his bakkie. We were beside ourselves with delight and I remember every twist and turn of the magical road as we flew past proteas and pincushions and birds and magnificent views. We have remained very proud of…
Read MoreIntrepid CREW members in search of a rare Erica
Members of CREW, an environmental organisation protecting endangered plants, braved the rugged summit of Dragonridge in search of Erica Hippurus (horse heath), a rare and endangered Erica. They miraculously found it hidden in the grass and have written up their find in inaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14198648 But they were in even more luck. While bundu bashing they…
Read MoreThe Simon Simons Nature Reserve
To start with we have to say that the reserve is not named after us, but after my father and uncle Denis and Gerry Simson, and Johan’s Mother and father, Ray and Jack Simons. It is about 300 hectares in size and corresponds with the wild land of both Dragonridge and Sonkop mountains. It has…
Read MoreOur Paardeberg Black Eagle
We were delighted to receive these pics of a nesting Black Eagle and one in flight taken by Sue Goodman here on the Paardeberg. It’s not easy to catch these high flying birds on camera, but we see them often wheeling above the farm. Our latest house `Black Eagle’ is named for them because it’s…
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