Observations on breeding behaviour following the rainy season 2024/25

The rainy season 2024/25 was somewhat remarkable in so far that the rain started late (first notable downfall was 16mm on 7 February 2025), but mostly a soft rain fell quite consistently until 7 April 2025. The total rainfall for the rainy season was 291.5mm which is above average, but not exceptional.

Due to the consistent rainfall without long dry spells in between, the development of the grass cover was exceptionally good. This seemingly lead to remarkable breeding activity of many bird species, often outside of the usual main breeding season.

In particular we would like to note the following:

Redbilled Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus)

Following the last two previous poor rainy seasons (2023/24 and 2024/25) no breeding activity was noticed. However, in 2025 due to uncommonly abundant cover we have noticed exceptional breeding activity, both regarding the duration of the breeding season and the size of clutches. Breeding started as normal in May but lasted throughout the entire winter season, with small chicks still observed in October. One pair raising twelve chicks was repeatedly observed in September.

Hartlaub's Spurfowl (Pternistis hartlaubi)

As with Redbilled Spurfowl, no breeding activity was observed during the poor rainy season (2023/24), but unlike the Redbilled spurfowl there was no population explosion with Hartlaub's Spurfowl in respect to extended breeding period or bigger clutch size in 2025.

Currichane Buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus)

With this species there was an unusual breeding activity. The first chicks were noticed in May and a nest was found in mid-June. Adult birds with chicks were noticed throughout the year until 22 October 2025. While they usually migrate for a period of time, in 2025 they remained throughout the entire year. With still abundant cover, and after the first rains of the 2025/26 rainy season, advertising calls were already heard in December. These calls were not heard over a long period of time, but a nest containing three eggs was found on 5 January 2026.

Common Quails (Coturnix coturnix)

Common Quails were present in the area from July 2025.

Lark-like Bunting (Emberiza impetuani)

One nest containing three eggs was found unusually late on 11 August 2025.

Rock Bunting (Emberiza tahapisi)

A nest containing three eggs was found end of June 2025.

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea)

A display flight by a male was still observed on 29 August 2025.

In conclusion, it appears that the timing and duration of the breeding season and clutch size of certain species mainly depends on the rainy season and subsequent vegetation cover.