A strange thing happened yesterday … it rained, and we got a good old Cape south westerly squall with a bit of hail! In what has been a terribly dry year, every millimeter counts, even if it is just a few drops to settle the dust. This year’s tally to date is about half of last year’s total and even that was well below average. The wetlands and ponds which still have some water in them have become vital arteries of moisture and vegetation bands for many animals—and the home gardens are also providing important habitat pockets with food and water, especially for the small bush birds. Having to compete against the larger territorial birds, it is a tough time to carve out an existence for these small, lively birds.