The Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), has a particular significance to SAPREF. During Christmas 1999, a pair of Hamerkops arrived at the refinery and started building a nest in a trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata) growing in a garden courtyard within the administration complex. The comings and goings of the two birds were watched with interest by SAPREF people and a fondness for the pair soon developed. The SAPREF birds took four months to complete their nest. Now that they have settled into their home, their keen observers are hoping they will mate and that the flutter of tiny wings will soon be heard.

Found throughout Africa (south of the Sahara) and Madagascar, the Hamerkop is fairly common in and around Durban. It is a brown, medium sized wading bird with a distinctive hammer-shaped crest. Its diet consists mainly of frogs, but also fish, small mammals and invertebrates. When in flight it resembles a bird of prey, but is distinguishable by its long legs which extend beyond its tail. Its strange courtship behaviour includes intricate dancing and false mounting with loud calling.

A typical Hamerkop nest is about 2 metres in diameter and weighs 25 to 50 kilograms. The huge dome-shaped nest has a small front entreance and a roof up to 1m thick. Made with natural and man-made items - up to 8000 individual pieces are used - it is plastered inside with mud. The nest can take between three weeks to six months to build and is strong enough to withstand the weight of a man. Pairs often build more than one nest, possibly as security against the nest being taken over by bees, Egyptian geese or owls.