The “ugly ducklings” of the bird family

Let’s face it, most people are not smitten by vultures but despite your opinion of these birds, they are vitally important scavengers.

Lappet face vulture in flight by Corne Schalkwyk. 

Research in East Africa has shown that carcasses decompose almost twice as fast when vultures forage at carcasses as opposed to carcasses where vultures are not present. If vultures were to go extinct, carcasses may persist longer in the environment and this could have a number of consequences for the health of wildlife, livestock and humans.

Lappet-faced Vulture uses its strong bill to tear up skin and tendons. It also steals food to other raptors feeding close to him. It often feeds first, because it is the most adapted to tear up the skin and starting the feast. The strong, large bill easily tears up the flesh, and thanks to the bare head and neck, it is able to dig about into the carcasses without blood on its feathers. 

A pair of lappet Face vultures in Uganda by Corne Schalkwyk 

 Ruppell's vultures, named after a German explorer, are large African vultures. Much of their day is spent soaring in the air on thermal currents, at some surprisingly high altitudes, and using their keen eyesight to spot long forgotten carcasses. They home in on the carcass in flocks and with all the tasty flesh gone, these scavengers will eat what's left over, using their powerful hooked beaks to tear skin and break bones with ease. A decline in the range of these very social birds is partly a result of their being used in black magic.

Ruppell's vulture Photo by Tui de Roy

Question for the day - Did you know that Rüppell's & Lappet-faced vultures are the only two species of vultures that can open up carcasses?

This post was re-posted from "One photo at a time" - Photography page by Corne Schalkwyk. 

Photography page link on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/CT-Schalkwyk-Photography/161674203990102

If you are a birder and would like to do a birding Safari in East Africa contact Premier Safaris or visit their website at www.premiersafaris.com

For the best Safaris in Uganda and Rwanda make sure to speak to Premier Safaris. Also have a look at the Uganda Meander “Best of Uganda Safari”

For more images: http://tanzaniabirds.net/African_birds/vulture_Rueppells_griffon/rgv.htm

The Acrobats of the undergrowth “Mousebirds”

In the field, mousebirds are fascinating and entertaining birds to observe, and the more so when we consider that these enigmatic African birds are the sole survivors of a diverse and puzzling lineage.

Mousebird, common name for a family of small birds found only in Africa. The mousebird lives in open woodland and bushy country south of the Sahara.

Mousebirds (order Coliiformes) are one of those puzzling birds for birders in the field. They do not look or act much like any other birds. The mousebirds are a small group of (possibly near passerine) birds, which have no known close affinities to other groups, though might be close to trogons and owls.

They are arboreal and scurry through the leaves much like rodents, in search of berries, fruit and buds. This habit, and their legs, gives rise to the group's English name “mousebirds”. It is a ground bird capable of moving quickly through thick foliage or along the ground by running or hopping.

Mousebirds are social fruit-eaters that acrobatically dangle precariously at odd angles in tight clumps, feet spread wide and long tails often splayed. The six living species are all found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus) is the largest species of mousebird, as well as one of the most common.

 In early morning and late afternoon they are often to be found sunning themselves, sitting with their legs well apart and bellies exposed to the sun.

Interested in Birding in East Africa - Contact the experts www.premiersafaris.com 

Photos by C.T Schalkwyk as part of a Premier Safaris Birding Trip in Kenya 

Accommodation at the Aberdares country club and "the Ark" - www.marasa.net or contact Premier Safaris at reservations@premiersafaris.com for full package tours to Kenya or Uganda. 

Meet the sheriff

We tend to concentrate on the big and harries, and forget about the smaller reptiles and birds.

Today I wanted to write about birds and decided to go right for the big boy, the sheriff amongst birds so to speak. This bird is bound to get even the non-birders attention. The Martial Eagle, the largest eagle in Africa and one of the most impressive birds to encounter while on safari.

They are the largest of the African eagles and incredibly powerful, capable of knocking an adult man off his feet. They reputedly have enough power in one foot to break a man's arm. The largest eagle in Africa and one of the largest in the world, the Martial eagle weighs in at almost 6.5 Kg. The upperparts are dark brown with a white belly with black streaks; the legs are white and have very large talons. The immature bird looks quite different from the adult. The adult eagle has a body length of between 78 and 86 cms , a wingspan between 1.9 and 2.6 m

In some areas birds form an important part of the diet, including guineafowl, francolins, bustards, and poultry. Birds as large as a European Stork are recorded to have fallen prey to the Martial Eagle.

Martial Eagles feed on gamebirds, hares, hyraxes, small antelopes, monitor lizards and other medium sized vertebrates. Nests are built invariably in trees, high above ground, but often in the largest tree in the area, growing on a steep hillside or in a gorge, where the bird has a clear sweep off the nest. Martial Eagles form monogamous pairs and they usually mate for life. Pairs tend to breed once every two years and the breeding season correlates with the dry season across their geographic range. Females lay 1 - 2 eggs and incubation takes approximately 45 - 50 days. Between 90 and 100 days after hatching the youngsters are ready to fledge.

They prefer uninhabited stretches of thornbush and savannah found over much of Africa, occurring also in open plains and semi-desert country. It spends much of its time on the wing, and is usually seen soaring about hill slopes, often at a very great height rendering it almost invisible to the naked eye. Early in the morning before it takes to the wing for the day, or in the evening prior to roosting it can be seen perched in trees.

Interesting Facts: Martial Eagles are the only member of the genus Polemaetus.

These photos were taken by Corne Schalkwyk during a visit to Mweya Safari lodge – while on Safari with Premier Safaris in Uganda.

Birding Safaris in Uganda  - Premier Safaris  visit www.premiersafaris.com or email reservations@premiersafaris.com 

To visit the lodge: Mweya Safari lodge is part of the Marasa Africa Group of lodges www.marasa.net 

The song and dance

As humans, we have a multitude of ways and means used to attract that significant other. We learn and practise our approach while we grow up, and if we are fortunate we get better at it as we go along.  From the traditional “dinner and a movie,” to online platforms used for dating such as  Match.com, finding a good match can be as simple as being in the right place at the right time, or merely logging in and browsing online profiles.

In the animal world, this can be a matter of survival and becomes vitally important and can be just as competitive. They don’t have online profiles or first, second, and third dates. However, many different animal species have a round of “go to” courtship rituals all their own.  When members of the bird class court one another, they draw from mating practices in any of the following forms: singing, feather/plumage displays, preening/cleaning, feeding, nest building, etc.

 

Photos by Jonothan Hen-Boisen (Eastern Grey plantain eater )

 

Having moved to Uganda, I decided to take advantage of the birding paradise of Africa and sharpen my birding skills. This was decidedly more difficult than initially anticipated as the pearl of Africa has the ability to overwhelm you with its birding display that makes it daunting for the novice birder. I diced to take a back seat and watch the wonder of birding unfold.

There are many ways that birds seek to attract a mate, and understanding bird courtship behaviour can help birders better appreciate the complexity of the bird relationships forming in their midst as I learned from observing birds in my own backyard.

The ultimate purpose of courtship is very similar to those we practise as humans with our song and dance, “attract a receptive mate”, but there are actually several other purposes behind the courtship behaviour of different bird species. The intricate moves of a courtship dance and the recognizable bird sounds and songs used to attract mates can help distinguish species so birds are sure to choose compatible mates in the same way we do. I have noticed that birds use different courtship behaviours in order to reduce territorial aggression between birds, letting them relax together to form a pair bond. Depending on the type of behaviour, and how birds react in courtship, can also display strength, health and mating desirability, allowing different birds to choose the best partners and ensure viable offspring.

I had the fortunate opportunity of watching a female Eastern grey plantain eater and her numerous male suitors going through their paces in order to delight and impress recently, and decided to become the proverbial “peeping tom” in order to get a better insight into the world of birding. I found myself enthralled by each challenger and even found myself routing for a specific challenger that needless to say, much as myself that day didn’t get lucky.

We all have a fascination with reality shows, and this one was no disappointment with lower than their normal pitch “almost grunting “ sounds from the males leading to full out pecking at each other, and flaunting displays of prominent plumage to indicate their suitability as a mate.

One of the males showed a very interesting intimacy as part of the mating ritual that possibly helps to diffuse the excitement associated with their normal spatial boundaries and aggression. They lightly preened one another, while their bodies touched and leaned into one another as if to show that the intent wasn’t harmful.  He even returned her affection with what can only be described as a passionate kiss, although this could have been an indication of feeding although he didn’t have any visible food. I’m assuming that he might have had some hidden food to stack the odds against any would be competitor.

I have learned that with practice it is possible to identify birds based on their mating behaviour, very similar to how we watch mammals while doing bush walks for signs of danger. Furthermore, if a birder recognizes the courtship rituals of a bird, they can learn to look nearby for other birds that the displaying bird is hoping to impress.

I’m slowly being transformed from the backyard “peeping tom” into a full blooded and dreaded birder.

For more info on specialist birding Safaris in Uganda contact operations@premiersafaris.com or visit their website at www.premiersafaris.com - link

For accommodation in national parks in Uganda visit Marasa Africa at www.marasa.net

 

Photos by Jonothan Hen-Boisen (Eastern Grey plantain eater )