Let’s do some bird watching: African Fish Eagle
Let’s do some bird watching and explore more about the African Fish Eagle. Time to enjoy clarity through binoculars.
Bird-watching
Unlike the usual wildlife observation including the mammals, reptiles, and other ground wildlife. Bird watching allows us to observe birds and test our spoting/hearing/instincts towards birds.
Bird watching needs passion and determination hence not for jokers. Birdwatchers are keen, conscious to time, good hearing and sight, just to name afew.
It’s a technique one can learn without going to a school for it. All you need is passion, binoculars, guide books and a place to explore.
It’s best to start off by joining the bird watching gurus. You may feel intimidated or “stupid’. But you will learn a lot. And with a continuous association with them, you will become one of them or even better.
Several of my friends are one of the best birdwatchers and exploring nature with them, is one of the best outdoor activities. They have taught me to understand how birds and other animals communicate. Hence able to spot such wildlife just by identifying the message signalled by certain birds. It’s an incredible experience.
Am still learning to a be a good birdwatcher. So for now, am sticking with the huge birds than I can easily spot.
African Fish Eagle
It’s a very large bird. whereby the female is larger than males.
From their name, it’s clear that they feed on fish. They do feed on other marine creatures such as water birds, turtles, terrapins, little reptiles & amphibians, etc. Hence found around freshwater waterbodies.
They are natively distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. They just need an open fresh waterbody with plenty of fish and a good perch.
It’s a bully bird
This bird is knowned to snatch prey from other predators. As well as from fishermen.
They have also been observed to hunt for prey many times bigger than themselves. Hence forced to drag the prey on the water surface to the shores. Since they are unable to fly with such huge prey.
The female African Fish Eagle can lay up to three eggs, and if all eggs hatch. The strongest eagles end up killing the weaker siblings to eliminate competition.
Did You Know?
- Lake Naivasha hosts the largest population of African Fish Eagle in the world.
- African Fish Eagle is not a ”true’ eagle. Although it belongs to the same genus as the sea eagles.
- They are used as a symbol of strength.
- They can see five basic colors while humans can only see three. This is due to their eyes having more light-sensitive cells.
Conservation Status
Due to their population numbers, IUCN have classified African Fish Eagle of least concern.
African Fish Eagle can be used to identify if a water body is healthy. This is because they can not feed on creatures in a contaminated water body.
Looks like their population is shrinking…but they are a good species to not lose. I still hate the fact that we’ve lost the passenger eagles. But do you know that insects are disappearing faster than mammals, reptiles and birds?
Wetlands and other water bodies are either drying up or made to dry up hence making them homeless. And this contributes to the declining of their population.
I can figure…vegetation cover has been declining at am alarming rate etc etc…I meant to say passenger parrots and not eagles. Anyway, the declining species will have their own influence on the ecosystem. Everything plays a part in the balance of nature
Very true. It all boils back to habitat loss/ degradation/ fragmentation. Habitat is important for the survival of any living species.
So nice to learn about this bird . Wetlands are drying up here too, there has really been a surge of efforts to protect them.
They are incredible birds. And we should be able to protect and fight for their healthy home.
An interesting post!
Thank you
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I always learn something from your blog posts. That’s fascinating about the African Fish Eagle being able to see more basic colors than humans — and also that they won’t eat from contaminated water!
I clicked on the “Like” button, but there’s something wrong in my WordPress and my “like” button only works once in a while.