Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – African Fish Eagle
Find out more about this feathered Highway resident below.
IN this edition, we feature one of the most iconic of all species, the African Fish Eagle. This bird is not only famous for its looks and by the way it catches fish but also by its call, which is one of Africa’s most well-known sounds.
Also read: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Description
The African Fish Eagle has a majestic and distinctive appearance with a striking white head and neck. The rest of the feathers are a dark chestnut brown. The legs and feet are yellow. Both sexes are very similar with the male being the smaller at 2kg while the female weighs 3kg. It is considered a large bird at 63 to 73cm high and a wingspan of 2.4m for females.
Distribution
The African Fish Eagle is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, but it is not common in southern Mozambique, and numbers are low in Namibia.
Habitat
This species can be found mainly near rivers, lakes, dams or estuaries and has adapted well to living near human habitations.
Feeding
As the name suggests, the African Fish Eagle feeds primarily on fish which it catches in a sweeping dive with the talons sometimes going down to 300mm below the water surface. They have developed special barbs on their feet to help hold onto slippery fish.
Although fish are their main meal, they are very adept and agile in flight and will prey on waterbirds such as African Darters, Knob-billed Duck and Cormorants.
Breeding
The African Fish Eagle is monogamous and pairs for life. They are very territorial with the pair almost always within sight of each other. Nests are built by both adults and are generally located in a tall tree near water. The female lays up to four eggs which take approximately 43 days to hatch. Incubation is done mainly by the female, but the male does help out on occasion.
Predators and threats
This species is not threatened, but they are vulnerable to the use of pesticides which are ingested from fish in polluted rivers.
Local information
In the Highway area, the African Fish Eagle is most often seen and heard in flight as most nest in the Inanda Dam area or along the coastal estuaries.
Interesting facts
The African Fish Eagle is an important species with cultural significance in many African countries. It is often seen to represent power, freedom and strength. It has also inspired many legends, folklore and artistic expressions due to its majestic presence and distinctive call. It also is used on the national emblems of Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Sudan.
Because they rely heavily on fish, they are a good indicator of the health of rivers, dams and estuaries.
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