From Yolk to Yehaah!

Back in December 2013 while working at Selinda Camp in northern Botswana I was very fortunate in being able to photographically document a pair of African paradise fly-catchers building a nest, laying eggs and successfully raising two chicks. All of this took place just outside the main lodge kitchen door and the only equipment I really needed was my camera and a step ladder. Of course one had to be there at the right times to capture the process and lady luck was certainly on my side in this department.

These beautiful birds are summer visitors to Botswana, arriving from around mid-October onward and then leaving again for the eastern lowlands between the end of March and into the beginning of May. It’s breeding time there for them and so the males grow spectacular display tails and spend time flitting about from branch to branch in order to attract a mate.

The sequence of events went by so quickly and here are the photos to show …

The eggs were laid …

… and on day 12 had already hatched.

In just 8 days they grew this much … … and promptly left the nest.

Incredible! To go from being not much more than yolk to the freedom of flight in just under three weeks ...

Yehaah!