What's in a Name?

Megan and I live on 16 Geelvink Street here in Boksburg. "Geelvink" is an Afrikaans (a German/Dutch language used here in South Africa) word that means Yellow Finch (Geel = Yellow; Vink = Finch). There are many sub-tropical birds that perch in the trees of the gardens surrounding our rental house. Some of these birds are the yellow finch variety, from our street name.

INTERESTING FACT: Yellow finch males court their mates by stripping off all the leaves on surrounding branches of trees to build their nest (this is done to keep a clear visibility from predators like snakes encroaching on their nest). Then, meticulously, the male yellow finch collects up leaves from nearby trees and wraps them with his beak to build a circular nest. The entry hole is located at the bottom (pictured below is a nest from our yard).

The female yellow finch "inspects" the male's nest when he's finished. She then either grants it approval and goes inside to nest or immediately knocks it all down and he must start all over again (and do better next time). Sometimes, the male may have to build five nests before one is acceptable to his female mate. Talk about a tough marriage!

A Yellow Finch (Geelvink) male bird.

A Yellow Finch (Geelvink) female bird.

A Yellow Finch nest pictured above from one of the trees in our yard. The female was ruthless. She tore this one down and her male mate had to start all over again.