Blackeyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) - Maree

Let the farmer remember that every bird destroyed, and every nest
robbed, is equivalent to a definite increase in insects with which he
already has to struggle. He will soon appreciate the fact that he has
a personal interest, and a strong one, in the preservation of birds.
- Henry Oldys

The Blackeyed Bulbuls are regular visits to my garden, enjoying a snack at the various bird tables and splashing in the shallows at the pond. They are very gregarious birds and will call one another incessantly should they lose sight of one another. They are also always the first to spot a snake in my garden, and their alarm calls always lure me out to see what's going on. They eventually have the whole garden bird population in uproar, flitting from branch to branch above the snake, letting it know in no uncertain terms that it's definitely not welcome! They have the same reaction when they spot Torti, my Mountain tortoise, although I can't for the life of me think why!

Found just about everywhere in Africa except in the dry South West and on the Cape.

Blackeyed Bulbul sketch - Maree

“I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
when his wing is bruised and his bosom sore;
when he beats his bars and he would be free,
it is not a carol of joy or glee,
but a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core.”
- Paul Laurence Dunbar

Pencil sketch in hand-made sketchbook with Daler-Rowney Acid-free Heavy Weight 220gsm (135lbs) sketching paper - 6" x 8"

The Bulbuls were very frisky in my garden this afternoon - lots of chattering and fighting going on, I'm not sure over what, but they were decidedly upset and no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find any reason like maybe a crow or a snake or some other stranger that they might not like in the territory.