Hapless Hangman 2

In response to the Gallery article by Mr Woods about the “Hapless Hangman” hanging birds and/or insects on thorns and barbed wire fences - YES absolutely they do! I have seen it numerous times on the farm I grew up on. I have found caterpillars, locusts, even birds of similar size as Mr Hangman hanging on our cattle fences.

I have watched a Laksman ‘dive bomb’ a geelvink several times incapacitating it then severing the spinal chord just below the scull with a singe swift bite.

However, removing just a single item from a Fiscal’s spens/pantry results in that male not using that particular stretch of fence for a very long time or stopping altogether.

My father prohibited me from shooting them, but I did take two and studied their bills which are robust and powerful with a sharp thin tip to snip a spinal chord. These little birds are incredibly powerful, almost like the leopard, as they can hoist a bird of similar size up and hang it on a fence.

I have also watched a Grey-headed Bush Shrike (Spookvoël) dive bomb a turtle dove. A single aerial strike sent the dove down even though the dove was of similar size. These little assassins have remarkable skills.

Thank you for all the fantastic articles, and thank you for holding on and working so hard to keep our legendary MAN MAGNUM alive. – A Harmse, North West