Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month, November 2018
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Peter Betts
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Re: Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month November 2018
We had lots of rain one night in April and the next morning pre sunrise I found this fella searching the VERY muddy Nossob River bed next to R Puts Camp for flushed out snakes ..opportunists deluxe
Re: Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month November 2018
A couple (they mate for life), at Nossob waterhole :
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Flutterby
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Re: Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month November 2018
Love the portrait Dindingwe, and the forlorn looking drenched Secretary Peter 
On my solo trip in 2016 I saw this pair collecting material and constructing their nest, though it was quite far away.
The monogamous pair works together to build a large nest reaching up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) across. The nest is built of twigs, sticks, animal fur and dung, leaves, and grasses.
The busy couple works on and visits the nest for up to six months; pairs often use the same nest for many years.
One to three pale-green eggs are laid every two to three days, and the female does most of the incubation duties. The eggs hatch in the order they were laid, a few days apart. Both parents feed regurgitated and liquefied insects and small animals directly to the youngsters. Unlike other birds of prey, secretary bird parents often raise more than one chick successfully.
On my solo trip in 2016 I saw this pair collecting material and constructing their nest, though it was quite far away.
The monogamous pair works together to build a large nest reaching up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) across. The nest is built of twigs, sticks, animal fur and dung, leaves, and grasses.
The busy couple works on and visits the nest for up to six months; pairs often use the same nest for many years.
One to three pale-green eggs are laid every two to three days, and the female does most of the incubation duties. The eggs hatch in the order they were laid, a few days apart. Both parents feed regurgitated and liquefied insects and small animals directly to the youngsters. Unlike other birds of prey, secretary bird parents often raise more than one chick successfully.
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Richprins
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Re: Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month November 2018
Like Flutts said, Ex!
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Lisbeth
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Re: Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month November 2018
Another thing that I have never seen.
Great sequence, Sis and interesting info
Great sequence, Sis and interesting info
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
Re: Secretary Bird - Bird of the Month November 2018
Thank you my three amigos (amigas)
The secretary bird’s taxonomic name, Sagittarius serpentarius, means “the archer (or hunter) of snakes.”
Eons ago I took these pics of one who had successfully caught a snake and after much wrangling, devoured it. (It was very far away, so they are heavily cropped and somewhat blurred, but it's the only time I've seen a secretary bird with a snake.)
The secretary bird’s taxonomic name, Sagittarius serpentarius, means “the archer (or hunter) of snakes.”
Eons ago I took these pics of one who had successfully caught a snake and after much wrangling, devoured it. (It was very far away, so they are heavily cropped and somewhat blurred, but it's the only time I've seen a secretary bird with a snake.)