Balancing rather precariously on this thin branch, a Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill tries to get comfortable without falling off and embarrassing itself.
Give prominence by being ‘Zazu’ in The Lion King, these birds are also known as the Banana Bird because of the colour and shape of their bill. There are also Grey and Red-billed Hornbills that are regularly seen in and around the camps in a variety of different reserves in South Africa.
A pair of Tawny Eagles keep an eye open for a snack.
Did you know…Here are some interesting facts about the tawny eagle.
The species is diurnal, meaning that they are active by day and sleep at night. They are monogamous and usually pair for life, occupying the same general area for years as they do not migrate.
This species are generalist carnivores and formidable hunters. Their diet relies mainly on fresh carrion of animals that have recently been killed. They will also eat insects and kill small animals such as smaller birds, rabbits, and small reptiles including lizards and snakes.
Time for some reflection… A Water Thick-knee playing at being a sentry at the edge of a dam.
Just one of the many Grey Herons that we found wandering around the various dams on the reserve we were staying at.
A Yellow-billed Oxpecker perched on the neck of a giraffe.
I have been told by those in the know that if you only learn ONE bird call, this is the one that you need to memorize. Seeing that this bird is often found on rhino and buffalo, keeping an ear open for their call could be a lifesaver.
The bush alarm? You bet ya! The call of a Swainson’s Spurfowl can wake the deepest sleeper.
If only I could scratch behind my ears as this Yellow-billed Stork can do!
However, I never been this supple and for the foreseeable future I will just have to marvel at the capabilities of this bird.
The beginnings of a new home for Mr. & Mrs. Weaver? Perhaps. However, the truth is that the females are fussy about where they will and won’t live. So often the male has to rebuild the nest multiple times. Luckily for them. they can complete a new next in just a few hours so that they can hopefully retain the female and prevent her from going off with another male who has built a ‘better’ next.
Standing proud…A Great Egret, looking for a meal.
Love them or hate them, Egyptian Geese have invaded almost every water source in South Africa.
In a suburban setting, they have even been known to move into a residential swimming pool and lay and hatch their young in a backyard.
This Saddle-billed stork is NOT the species that delivers babies.
Did you know where the legend began? Coincidentally, the storks would return to Europe nine months later for breeding season, which coincides with a lot of those honeymoon babies being born. Hence, the connection was made that storks brought babies and a legend was born!
The story was likely spread due to the perceived, and slightly odd, human necessity to waylay children’s awkward questions for as long as possible. In Hans Christian Andersen’s time, baby-making was particularly a taboo topic. Even today, many children get siblings before they are deemed ready for “The Talk” but their curious nature means parents have to tell them something. Because of their long history associated with babies and family, storks are an easy story to tell kids sometimes in the same breath as teaching them valuable life lessons like always being honest…
“I am a Verrreaux’s (Giant) Eagle Owl”…”And who may I ask are you”?
FYI: It seems that this Owl will prey on almost anything that has a heartbeat! Mole-rats, ground squirrels, shrews, hares, bushbabies, vervet monkeys, baby warthogs, mongoose, genets, small wild felines and bats. They are found in urban environments where they have been known to prey on domestic cats.
The largest known wingspan from a wild female measured nearly 164 cm…
Mobbing. This Fork-tailed Drongo will tackle the largest raptors to get it to leave an area.
Seemingly fearless, the smaller birds will often dive-bomb in numbers rather than singly to intimidate whatever bird has attracted their ire.
The word ‘iDube’ in isiZulu means Zebra, hence the zebra image finding its way into a bird post. If you want to find out more about their current specials and offers, click on the logo above to visit their website.
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