Magnificent birds of prey
Wolves of the Rietvlei sky
What does it feel like to be an apex predator? We should know. Thanks to cunning, ruthlessness ,and opposable thumbs, Homo Sapiens, or Wise man, has ruled the earth for 300 000 years. I consider it fortunate then, based on our deplorable track record, that we have not yet adapted to dominate the skies or the deep oceans. In these places, wildlife has to some extent escaped our strong grip and crafted their own existence. It is the skies where I will focus my attention as I am in awe of the apex predators found there. Birds of prey, also known as raptors, have through the process of biological evolution, scratched and clawed their way to the top of their food chains. Equipped with razor-sharp talons at the end of powerful legs, and strong, hooked beaks for ripping through flesh, raptors use their weapons most efficiently. The mere presence of a raptor commands the respect of nature photographers and animals alike. They are aerial marvels, they are the wolves of the sky, and here are some of their stories.
All the bird species mentioned below occur naturally in Rietvlei Nature reserve, a 4000 hectare wetland reserve, located in the capital city of South Africa, Pretoria (Pop. 2.5million)
I can see the red in your eyes
Aerial acrobats, Black-winged kites are adept and efficient hunters. You will often find them perched on telephone poles or power cables where they pierce the grassland below with their blood-red eyes. They are rodent-hunting specialists but they will even feed on invertebrates and other smaller birds such as pigeons. Fiercely territorial as many raptors are, they will wag their tail feathers up and down, as a warning to other kites in the area. Possessing a low wing load, they are capable of powerful, fast flight but also bouts of gliding and hovering as they hunt.
Elanus is derived from the Greek word Elanos meaning a Kite. Caeruleus is Latin for blue. This makes up the beautiful name of Elanus Caerulus (Blue kite), due to the beautiful blue, grey sheen given off when looked at in certain light conditions. The Black-winged Kite is small, reaching only 30 cm long, and females, being larger than males, weigh in at a maximum of 300 grams. They are diurnal and play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations in farmland and marshland. It is thus strongly encouraged that they and their habitat of moist grassland be protected. On a road we often frequent to my local nature reserve, we often spot them perched roadside, thus giving us excellent sightings even before our arrival.
One cold winter morning, as I was observing one perched on a solitary wooden pole. As it was tearing apart its rodent breakfast, another swooped in from out of nowhere and attempted to challenge the incumbent for its meal. After a brief moment of aggressive posturing, the newcomer accepted that it was not going to receive a share of the meal and perched a few meters off on top of a thorn tree. Animal interactions, especially when competition is involved are always special, and this was no exception.
Nature’s snake handler
Serpent eagles fascinate me tremendously. Where true eagles, such as the Martial and Crowned eagles have feathers extending down their legs, Snake eagles do not. Their legs are adorned with thick protective scales, a clear adaptation to their way of life. This also provides clear evidence of the fact that birds evolved from reptiles. Their main form of prey is of course snakes, and these scales protect their legs, to the point where they are almost impenetrable to snake bites. The Black-chested snake eagles in my area also inhabit grassland and Savanna. They will glide in the sky, on rising thermals as they hunt, and upon seeing a snake, they will descend with incredible speed and agility and grasp the snake with their strong talons. The unfeathered legs of the snake eagles also give them an unobstructed view in the long grasses once they have seized their prey.
Black-chested snake eagles are large birds of prey, but they are not invulnerable. I have seen crows mob the eagles incessantly, to the point where it was believed by other onlookers that the crows destroyed the recently laid eggs. Looking at the eagle mother, she certainly seemed distressed and during this interaction, I wondered what must be going through her mind. Looking through my telephoto lens at this marvelous bird, I certainly saw a desperate and confused parent, rattled by the unrelenting siege of the crows. But this is certainly not the end for this aspiring family. Most birds pair for life and the Snake eagle and her mate will breed again, this time with more success I believe.
Hunter of the marshes
Medium-sized owls, inhabiting moist grassland, Marsh owls have exploited a niche many owls have not thought of. They hunt low to the ground and even make their nests in tall grass. They are excellently camouflaged ensuring they are invisible to most grassland predators. Marsh owls form part of the family Strigidae otherwise known as true owls. Marsh owls can grow up to 38cm long and carry wings up to that same length. They have strikingly beautiful features with a pale facial disc sporting large, forward-facing, deep brown eyes (binocular vision is an important characteristic of owls).
The biggest threat to these splendid owls is unfortunately large-scale habitat loss due to agricultural farmland and interestingly enough, bad burning practices. Fire is an effective pasture managing tool if used correctly, however many burn year after year, preventing grasses from growing to sufficient levels for these owls to nest in. Burning this much also prevents palatable climax grasses from establishing a foothold in an area and thus low value, pioneer grass species keep dominating the area.
These owls are nocturnal but also crepuscular meaning they actively hunt at dawn and dusk, however on cool days they may be active well into the late morning. Perched on a small tree with city lights subtly engrossing the background, a Marsh owl sat watching and waiting. Bobbing its head side to side, as most owls do (this is because owls are far-sighted) to help it gauge distance, it took off gracefully before diving headfirst into the long grass after its quarry. It emerged a while later, from which I assumed to be a successful hunt as it had no further interest in pursuing anything else. It perched on another tree for a bit with a disinterested posture before eventually flying off into the distance.
The call of Africa
No article about African raptors would be complete without the most iconic of them all, the African fish eagle. A large, handsome Sea eagle in the genus Haliaeetus. This genus encompasses other Sea eagles such as the powerful Bald eagle and the gigantic, Steller’s sea eagle, the largest extant eagle on the planet. The African fish eagle has perhaps the most iconic call on the continent. Let’s imagine you go out one Friday night, drinks are flowing and you wake up the next morning with no clue where you are and how you got there. If the first thing you hear upon waking is the call of this fish eagle, you will know exactly where you are. You need not be a birder to identify its call.
African fish eagles are monogamous, mating for life. As with most raptors, females are larger than males and carry wingspans of up to 2.4 meters. A pair will often call in a duet, characteristically throwing their head back as their sounds ring through the African sky. The African fish eagle is often portrayed as a noble hunter however it is a very opportunistic bird. Otherwise known as a kleptoparasite, it will steal food from Herons and snatch bird eggs and even chicks from nests. They have even been seen catching baby crocodiles. I feel however that in no way does this diminish the iconic reputation of this bird, as the law of nature has always been “Eat, or be eaten”. The fish eagle does what it needs to, ensuring that it and its family thrive.
The Zulu name for fish eagle is inkwazi. A name shared by the South African Presidential transport plane, a Boeing 737. Think of it as our version of Air Force One. This bird also holds the honor of being the national bird of Namibia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. On the Zambian flag (pictured above), the flying eagle represents the freedom of the Zambian people and their ability to rise above any challenges they face.
Fearless royalty of the Grassland
Striding through grassland like a monarch, head held high, large eyes watching for the faintest of movements in the grass, the endangered Secretary bird is a glorious and regal sight to behold. This bird walks with an air of confidence not often seen in Terrestrial hunting birds. I attribute this to the fact that the Secretary bird has legs like spears, which it can, and will use to impale any who threaten its sovereignty. Standing 1.4m tall, the Secretary bird has the longest legs of any bird of prey, and these legs are shielded in thick, armored scales, protecting it from powerful bites from venomous snakes lurking in the grass. The Secretary bird will thrust its leg downward towards its target at a force of 195 newtons, equaling 5 times its body weight. This is all done in a tenth of the time it takes you to blink your eyes, and is usually done with deadly accuracy. When faced with a deadly cobra or viper, any miscalculation or wasted split-second can be costly for the Secretary bird. These strong kicks ensure that its enemy is incapacitated on impact, ensuring no further retaliation.
What’s in a name?
The most interesting part of the Secretary bird for me is the derision of its name. One of the first features you notice looking at this bird is the dramatic, sharp, upright feathers at the back of its head. This is said to resemble the quills or pens of a secretary as they were placed behind the ear. The truth however is even more fascinating and perfectly encapsulates this bird’s behavior and aura. The Secretary bird gets its name from the Arabic word, Saqr-et-tair, meaning “Hunting bird”, and boy is it an exceptional hunter. Taking a wide range of food sources from invertebrates to frogs, to small mammals and deadly snakes, the Secretary bird is a calculating and precise hunter.
A nation’s pride
From all the birds I have mentioned above, the Secretary holds perhaps the most special place in my heart. It is the centerpiece on the Coat of arms of my beautiful country, South Africa. The motto on our national seal reads: “!ke e: /xarra //ke”. These are Khoisan words belonging to the language of the /Xam people of South Africa. It translates to “Diverse people unite”. A highly appropriate motto, describing the incredible people of this country, who together want to create a better society for all who call this land their home.
More information on the South African coat of arms can be found here. https://www.gov.za/about-sa/national-coat-arms
and an image can be found here. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa_(heraldic).svg
From the bottom up we gaze upon a spear and knobkierie (a traditional wooden weapon), representing the powerful legs of the Secretary bird. They are also shown to be folded and lying down, representing the intention of peace, but just as the legs of the Secretary bird can strike at dangerous snakes, so can these weapons protect our beautiful nation from any enemy.
Further above we find the chest of the bird, comprising of our national flower, the King Protea. This flower is a symbol of the beauty of our nation and its open, skyward pointing flowers show the potential that our country has, as it reaches for the Sun. The Secretary bird itself is shown in flight, regal and confident, pushing its powerful wings towards the heavens. This image characterizes the bird as a messenger of the Divine power of heaven, uplifting our nation, whilst simultaneously protecting its people. Crowning the Secretary bird is the Sun, the strongest force on earth, upon which all life depends. Looking at the Coat of arms of my country, I am filled with incredible pride and a positive mindset I wish more would adopt.
My most special moment with this bird came one early morning, around 8, as I turned a corner after crossing a small bridge. Roughly 300 meters away I saw it perched on top of a flat Acacia tree, the Majestic secretary bird. Reluctantly adhering to the local speed limit, I prayed that it wouldn’t take flight before I came within photographic distance. It was just my luck that this particular bird was partaking in the important activity of preening to maintain its feathers in the morning sun. It remained perched on the tree for a further 30 minutes as I took countless shots of it before it took to the wing and landed on the other side in the marsh as it started its pursuit of breakfast.
Raptors, now and forever
The birds mentioned above all look vastly different, however, they have one thing in common. They strike fear into the hearts of other creatures. They are strong, they are swift and they are ruthless when need be, however, they can also be loving and caring, ensuring their offspring are prepared for the challenges which lie ahead. Thanks to their large array of weapons they have at their disposal, they achieve their mission with as little effort as possible. This said raptors are not invulnerable. They face challenges like all other animals. Habitat loss, poisoning, and human pressure. These factors make life harder for these magnificent avians. However, when these birds take flight, nothing awakens the senses more. With their powerful wings, they cut through the skies with purpose. With their piercing eyes, they track down the smallest of targets. When they take to the skies they are unmatched and unrivaled, even by humanity. It is there, that they do, that which they were born to do. It is there, amongst the clouds, in the vast, open blue sky, where they are free.
Thank you to my dear friends, Marietjie & Gavin for providing the beautiful photos of the African fish eagle.
You can find more of my photographs on my Instagram page linked below. https://www.instagram.com/petrusvaneck7/
More info on the South African Coat of Arms can be found here. https://www.gov.za/about-sa/national-coat-arms
