![]() ![]() Further research into the links between light, sleep and performance, including the underlying mechanisms and consequences for fitness, could shed new light on sleep evolution and urban ecology. Although there is still limited research on this topic, these results raise intriguing questions about the adaptive value of sleep. Nevertheless, multiple studies suggest that light can prolong wakefulness in birds without impairing performance. Sleep also benefits avian cognitive performance, including during early development. There is accumulating evidence that exposure to natural and artificial sources of light regulates and suppresses sleep in diurnal birds. Here, we review the evidence for effects of light on sleep and subsequent performance in birds. Disruption of sleep by extended photoperiods, moonlight and artificial light could therefore impair performance in humans and non-human animals alike. For more information, contact us at SafariBookings.Sleep has a multitude of benefits and is generally considered necessary for optimal performance. under the stars? The experience will be unforgettable. ![]() Why not book a safari tour and experience your very own African symphony. However, the sounds evoke so many feelings and emotions, like joy, fear, anger, love and serenity. Often, we focus on the sights – the beautiful photo ops of magnificent wildlife and stunning scenery. The sound of ‘knock, knock’ as your room attendant brings you tea and coffee as the first light of dawn brings in a new day! Followed by the unzipping of your tent and the rattle of cups as he places the tea down…time to face a new day on safari…new experiences and new rewards. The air is still and the midday heat means little is moving, and then the ka’ka, ka’ka, ka’ka of the red-billed hornbill fills the air. This is the sound we identify with most when the hot, dry months come to the African bush. It begins as a shrill whistle and then builds to a crescendo before descending seemingly into the distance. ![]() The eerie sound of a nightjar can often be heard late at night as you lie in your bed – smooth and rhythmical. Not to be outdone by the big cats, the evenings are often punctuated by the sinister ‘whooping’ call of the spotted hyena – ever so eerie but not as spine-tingling as their high-pitched, human-like cackle when approaching a kill! Like the sound of ice clinking in your glass at sundowner time, the sound of hundreds of reed frogs can be both appealing and calming. Wake up to the sound of “five bob, two and six” as it resonates through the bush emanating from a bird that spends all day on the ground, lives in a family group, shares responsibility for raising its young (cooperative breeding), and has eyelashes that are actually feathers! You know you have woken up in Africa when, as you lie in your bed at first light, you hear the loquacious glug, glug sound of a coucal…(often referred to as the ‘bottle bird’ as its call sounds like the water being poured from a bottle – descending as it empties!). But don’t forget to listen out for the rasping call of the leopard (it sounds like someone sawing a piece of wood). Of course, everyone wants to hear the roar of a lion in the wild…it goes without saying. Perhaps the most iconic call in Africa, the fish eagle should be first on anyone’s list. Here are 10 sounds to listen for on safari (ask your guide to help you identify each on the list): 1. There are the landscapes, the smells…and also, the sounds. So, what are the sounds to listen for on safari? When you go on safari you could be forgiven for thinking that it was all about what animals you will see…but it’s much more than this. ![]()
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