O is for Ostriches and an old feather duster

The Ostrich is a familiar sight in the Eastern Cape, either in the wild or as domesticated birds. They are also important players in the economy of the region, either in eco-tourism or for commercial purposes.

Female Ostriches at Holmeleigh Farm outside Port Elizabeth. Feed them, but don't pet them

This area was once the centre for the supply of Ostrich feathers to the fashion houses of London. Paris and New York.

Feathers plucked from wild birds were first exported in 1826. Commercial farming with domesticated birds started in about 1867 and the great feather boom started around 1870. At its height, there were more than 750,000 domesticated ostriches in the Little Karoo and about 450,000 kilograms of Ostrich feathers were exported a year.

A male Ostrich will reach a height of about 2,4 meters and weigh up to135 kilograms.
This one was photographed at the Addo Elephant National Park


There was a big boom in Ostrich farming in the Oudtshoorn area at that time and many farmers became extremely wealthy as a result. Many of the old "Ostrich Palaces" can still be seen and visited in that area. The main market for the sale of the feathers was in Port Elizabeth.

Composite pictute of the Feather Market Centre taken from Govan Mbeki Avenue

Situated in down-town Port Elizabeth is the Feather Market Hall, which owes its existence to Ostrich feathers. Its history goes back to the 1870's, when the City Council decided to build a trade centre for the booming ostrich feather industry. The Feather Market Hall was completed in January 1885 and the first auctions started soon after.

The roof of the main hall of the Feather Market Centre, facing Castle Hill


Fashion changed with the advent of World War I and was never the same again. The leading fashion houses changed their designs, to fit the austerity of war effort and the demand for Ostrich feathers declined to almost nothing. Many of the people who supplied the feathers lost their fortunes and the fancy mansions they had built. Oh the fickleness of fashion.

Entrance to the main hall from Castle Hill


Today the Feather Market Hall is one of the premier venues in the City and is used for conventions, conferences, trade shows and concerts
A pipe organ installed some years back for recitals. As a total peasant I avoid these recitals like the plague.

The Ostrich industry still thrives today, but with a different focus. Ostrich meat has become very popular, because it is a red and is very low in cholesterol and calories and is almost fat free. Leather from ostrich skins is the strongest commercial leather available and very fashionable. Ostich biltong (jerky) is popular and there is a growing demand for their eggs.

And there is still a market for the feathers in fashion and decor worlds and of course lets not forget the humble feather duster that still consumes its fair share of feathers.
Oh, and if anyone out there still thinks that Ostriches stick their heads in the sand.............they don't
Acknowledgements and thanks to Suzi-k for the pictures of the Feather Market Hall

Jackals

I took these pictures of a Black Backed Jackal at the Wolf Sanctuary near Knysna this weekend. These pictures can be considered a follow up to my Wednesday ABC post on Jackals, as I only had pictures of their pelts then. They may be regarded as vermin but I like them - they have character.

Enjoying the sunshine.


Getting comfortable

Strolling through the grass


Watch this spot for the wolves, because that what the sanctuary is all about.

Edens' Touch

Morning walk at Eden's Touch near Harkerville shows some of the beauty of the Southern Cape. Known as the Garden Route there is always a show of colour, depending on the time of the year.

The path leading down to the forest through the heather and other indigenous plants.


The entrance to the forest. These forests were once plundered for their timber, mainly Yellow Wood and Stinkwood. There are now very strict controls over the harvesting of timber


Mountain stream. The water has a brownish colour from the vegetable matter.


View across the valley, with some exotic pine trees in the foreground

Farewells and celebrations

Well it has been a weekend of mixed emotions first saying goodbye to my son and daughter-in-law, as he returns to pursue his career as an airline pilot in North Africa and then driving down the garden route to celebrate great grandpa's 80th birthday in the Knysna forest.

The farewells also meant saying goodbye to little Amelia, who arrived on 13 September and who we are just getting to know. Ok, I am totally besotted and know when I see her again I will be a push-over, but that is what being a grandpa is all about.

The family smiling broadly at the dinner table waiting for the camera's self-timer to go off. It turned out to be a memorable evening filled with lots of fun and laughter.

Have you ever Googled yourself

David's weekend wandering....

Guilty as charged.......but then I already knew what I would find.

Or did I? Didn't know there were so many people in the world with my name - over a million. Number one being a murderer awaiting extradition from Canada to the USA .

Me...........second from the top, which explains how a long lost cousin, who I had not seen for over 30 years found me by Googing my name.

Think I'll leave there and also keep my surname out of this, as there could be a case of mistaken identity.