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1. Africa's Birds
of Prey - Princes of the Bird World
As birding increasingly becomes one of the
fastest growing hobbies in the world, advances in technology
continue to make this hobby more fun and appealing. It is
now easier with powerful binoculars and other optical instruments
to view birds from a distance. Africa is the most rewarding
birding destination in the world. The continent has close
to 2,500 recorded bird species, about two-thirds of which
are endemic to the continent.
Africa's birds are found in all sorts of ranges
-from grasslands, marshlands, forests and mountains, to water-shores,
woodlands, arid interiors, and lowlands. The Indian Ocean
islands, including Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles are
also abundant with bird-life. Here you have superb opportunities
to see extremely rare and endangered species with over 140
species endemic to the islands.
Raptors- birds of prey- are the princes of
the bird world. They are charismatic and are among the most
fascinating birds to watch. Raptors fly faster, further, higher
and more elegantly than other bird species. They are feared
and despised by other birds and indeed by many other animals-
particularly those that they prey upon. Raptors are perched
right at the top of the food chain, and are good indicators
of a habitats environmental health.
Worldwide there are about 500 species of birds
of prey. The family of raptors includes: eagles, hawks, kites,
falcons, vultures, buzzards, harriers, owls, and the secretary
bird. All except the owl -which is nocturnal, are diurnal
-meaning they are active by day. These birds are different
in many ways; yet share many common features.
Birds of prey have powerful, sharp and hook-shaped
beaks that are designed for tearing of flesh. Their beaks
comprise of two horny keratin plates that are hooked at the
tips to suit their feeding habits. Raptors generally have
sturdy legs, spiked with exceptionally strong and non-retractable
claws called talons, which they use for attack and grip. This
is no doubt where their greatest physical strength lies.
In addition, they have purposely built spindle-shaped
bodies, enabling them to be nimble and sprightly fliers. The
aerodynamics of wing size and tail shape determines each species'
hunting strategy. These attributes are complemented with perfect
vision and an acute sense of hearing, to make raptors lethal
flying machines.
Vision is a raptors most important sense.
They see in colour with vision acuity up to 3 times that of
humans and focus well using telescopic vision. Their eyes
are proportionately large, with more eye sensory cells than
other animals. They have a third eyelid beneath the lower
eyelid -a thin clear membrane that can expand horizontally
across the eyeball. They thus can close the extra eyelid to
protect the eye without loss of vision or focus.
Raptors have inconspicuous external ears at
the lower back of the eyes and their hearing is sensitive.
They have a less sensitive sense of smell but an acute sense
of taste that basically guides them to avoid harmful feed.
Lacking the gift for music, their vocalizations are anything
but melodic; their cries are sometimes shrill calls, fierce
screeches, sharp whistles, guttural squawks and hair-raising
hoots.
Raptors generally wear ashen coloured gowns
with hues ranging between black, brown, white and greyish-blue.
Colour is rarely a distinction between males and females but
rather between the young and adults. Mating and breeding for
these birds is seasonal. Most species are monogamous, and
both mates are adept at incubating the eggs, brooding and
parenting. Among most raptors, females are larger and heavier
than males- a phenomenon referred to in scientists jargon
as reverse dimorphism.
Females normally pick the warmer months when
temperatures are just right to lay eggs. Hatching is a process
that may take days; one egg at a time. The hatchlings break
out of their shells using an "egg-tooth", which
falls off shortly after hatching. The raptors little ones
are featherless and largely helpless. The mother broods her
nestlings as her mate is constantly away hunting for the young
ones who seem to be in a recurrent feeding frenzy.
The parents typically care for the nestlings
until they are fully fledged. This may last for about 2-3
weeks for the smaller raptors, 5-10 weeks for the mid-sized
and several months for the larger eagles and vultures. Young
adults will normally leave the nest on their own, or when
the parents discontinue their food supply, or sometimes when
they leave to migrate.
Migration is a seasonal movement, usually
between north and south, based on an internal calendar triggered
by climatic and other environmental factors. The birds are
able to re-trace their paths guided by dynamics such as: scenery,
past journeys taken and the earth's position in relation to
the sun, moon and stars.
Raptors are not particularly social, and may
choose to migrate solo or in small flocks; they are therefore
not true migrators. They are territorial and home ranges -
which vary between species, are based on availability of prey.
The diet of the birds of prey heavily contains
flesh and generally comprises insects, snakes and reptiles,
fish and clams, eggs and birds, small mammals, and carrion
-depending on species' taste and preference. Though hunting
methods vary with species and type of prey hunted, they are
based on the principle of high-speed ambush.
Most raptors hunt by coordinating their body
muscles and a number of senses, all calculated into a timely
reflex. They are able to spot prey from miles away and can
detect slight movements with their super vision. In a very
high-speed stoop dive, they approach their prey and within
a split second on contact, they incise their powerful talons
into the unfortunate prey.
The synchrony of spiny claws and muscle power
squeezes the life out of the victim. They then begin to rip
off the flesh with their hooked bills, consuming all that
is edible. Raptors' table etiquette allows feeding while still
in mid-air flight.
Eagles -which are quite large in size, are
the most common of the raptors. There are 59 eagle species
in the world, classified into 4 major categories: booted eagles,
fish eagles, snake eagles and forest eagles. Eagles have long,
broad wings best suited for wind gliding and soaring. They
are known for the dramatic way in which they hunt; they grab
their prey in a dash and fly off.
Eagles specialise in hunting small and medium-sized
mammals, including mice, rats, rabbits, monkeys and even small
antelopes. They build their nests high among tall trees or
high crags. Their nests -made of sticks -are usually large,
sometimes weighing close to 100 kg with a diameter of over
3m. They live significantly long, varying with size and species-
and larger eagles are known to live 40-55 years.
From ancient times, the eagle has been a symbol
of power and governance. Even today, it is one of the most
common symbols on emblems, and is the national bird of numerous
countries. In ancient Egypt, the eagle symbol was the seal
of the Ptolemaic leaders. Today, the eagle -the bald eagle
in particular, is the official American national symbol.
Booted eagles are mainly found in southern
and eastern Europe and some northern parts of Africa and migrate
south to sub-Saharan Africa during winter. They prefer the
forested, undulating countryside and open savannah where their
shrill vocalization is occasionally heard. Relative to other
eagle species, they are smaller in size but still considerably
larger than other raptors, with an approximate wingspan of
130 cm at full-grown length.
Booted eagles have wholly feathered legs and
live on birds, small mammals and reptiles. They breed between
April and July, laying 1-2 eggs per season. They have a lifespan
of up to 12 years.
Fish eagles prey on fish and clams and necessarily
live around water shores and coastal areas. The common species
widely seen in Africa south of the Sahara is the African Fish
Eagle. Fish eagles are specialised fish-eaters and are usually
about 2ft from bill to tail-tip. Equipped with strong barbed
talons, they can easily clutch slippery prey. They usually
have white-feathered heads, short tails and narrow wings with
a span of up to 5.5ft outstretched.
Fish eagles have remarkable sight and can
see well through water. They dive feet first, at high speed
to grapple their aquatic prey with a perfect calculated plunge
that outsmarts water refraction. They breed around fresh shores
and practice strict fidelity to their mates.
Snake Eagles -like their name suggests, prey
on serpents though sometimes they take on lizards and small
mammals. Widespread throughout out the continent, they are
mainly African species and hang out in arid savannahs and
tropical forests. Their short, featherless legs are studded
with tiny talons. Common types include: short-toed eagle,
black-chested snake-eagle, brown snake-eagle, banded snake-eagle
and the fasciated snake-eagle.
Falcons look more like eagles but have narrower
wings, well suited for high speed flying since they prey hastily.
They are the fastest animals in the world, and can attain
speeds of up to 150 km/h. Falcons are spectacular hunters
and mostly prey on live birds, which they prefer to catch
in mid air. They use their powerful legs to strike and destabilize
a bird in flight then move speedily to grasp it before it
falls to the ground.
The falcon's kicks are deadly, though their
talons are not as lethal as those of the eagle. Their diet
also includes smaller mammals and reptiles. They mostly come
to Africa just to breed. The pygmy falcon is the smallest
of the raptors, weighing less than 60 g; it feeds on insects,
tiny reptiles and mammals. It is light coloured on the underside
and darker on the upper and wing sides. It is mainly resident
in east and southern Africa.
Page
2 on more info on Africa's birds of prey
NOTE:
If you have a friend who is going on vacation to Africa and
would find the above information useful then you can email
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