Ashley with Mark Anderson, CEO of Birdlife South AFrica

At the beginning of the month, together with 11 members of staff and volunteers, I visited Kimberley, South Africa to carry out a research project with African White Backed Vultures. Our role was to assist Mark Anderson, Chief Executive of Birdlife South Africa, in ringing young vulture chicks at the nest. This year for the first time, we were also involved in fitting satellite transmitters to four vultures, in order to learn and understand more about their movements and feeding patterns.

Our first goal was to catch adult birds to fit the transmitters on, and so, when we left for Africa, we were clad in camouflage netting and clothing that had been donated to the Trust. Also packed were three large pet carriers, rope, and everything that we thought might help us in catching vultures. This also included a shovel, as we had managed to convince Jimmy Robinson (junior falconer extraordinaire) that we would dig a hole for him and he would have to hide in there for up to 8 hours like the American Indians, and grab a vulture from underneath. The alternative was to sit inside a dead buffalo in the 100-degree heat. For some reason neither of these appealed to Jimmy, or to his mother who phoned me before the trip to make sure that I would look after him whilst we were away!

The vulture ringing team, and today's menu at the vulture restaurant

Our main base was on Dronfield Farm on DeBeers estate, one of the main breeding areas for the vultures. We split up into five teams, three of which went to ring vultures whilst the other two attempted to catch the adult birds. As I was in the second group I spent the first five days of my Africa trip sat in a hide, which I have to say was quite a luxurious purpose built structure that had been constructed by Trust staff and volunteers the year before. It had one way glass to avoid the disturbing the vultures whilst feeding, plenty of room; enough to stand upright, a covered walkway allowing you to go from your vehicle to the hide without being seen, in fact we even had a loo! This was in contrast to Jimmy’s hide which was not quite so grand, it measured six feet by four feet, and at only five feet high was a little challenging for Jimmy who measures 6ft 5 in his socks!! Added to this he had to share this hide with two other members of the group. What made it even more difficult for Jimmy is that he is a terrible fidget and found it difficult to sit still and not talk for up to eight hours. Sadly, although up to seventy vultures came in and looked at the carcasses that had been put out for them, and several even landed on the ground near to the buffalo, they seemed more intent on fighting with one another than eating the food. The end result after five days was vultures one - hide members nil!

Jimmy getting to know the local wildlife

You would imagine that sitting inside a hide for five days in one place, looking at the same view, starting at four in the morning and finishing at six in the evening, you would become a little disheartened. However, I can tell you that, if you are with the best of company, watching an ever-changing landscape, it can be and indeed was, one of my all time favourite wildlife experiences. One of the most captivating sights was watching a masked weaverbird, build its nest a few inches away from the glass; I was just mesmerised watching it intricately weaving the grasses. In fact it helped to keep us all sane. (Sitting at home now I wonder if he has finished it). At points I laughed until I cried, the result of a mixture of good company and desperation!! Conversations covered whilst in the hide included: cannibalism, philosophy, covert military operations, the meaning of life, and the fact they we had a loo and Jimmy didn’t!

The view from the helicopter

At the end of day five, I was released from the hide, and taken up in a helicopter to view the estate, and the vultures that were nesting there. I am 43 now, and this was the first time I had been in a helicopter, and I have to say it was just the most incredible experience. To be able to watch zebra, wildebeest and rhino from the air brought back childhood memories of Daktari. During our trip we ringed a total of forty-eight youngsters, and in the end fitted the satellite transmitters to four young vultures that were about to leave the nests. We saw every sunrise and sunset, forged great friendships with our friends in Africa - and we can’t wait to return.

P.S. Jimmy can now be heard walking around the Trust grounds repeating his new catchphrase when I was in Africa every day saving Birds of Prey.

Taking a chick from the nest	Fitting radio transmittor	Local vultures

And if you are reading this, Jimmy’s mum, I told you I would bring him back in one piece.

Ashley Smith

With thanks to Nick and Cathy Taylor for the use of their images