In SABAP 1 published
in 1997, Andre Boshoff wrote: "Although numbers have decreased locally in
many areas, often dramatically, the Martial Eagle is still widespread in
southern Africa ... The conservation status provides cause for concern ... The
main causes [of the decrease] are direct persecution (shooting and trapping) by
small-stock farmers, indirect persecution by poisoning, drowning in
sheer-walled reservoirs, reduction of natural prey through habitat alteration
and degradation, and electrocution on electricity pylons."
Unfortunately in
SABAP 2 the numbers have continued to decline, even in the large conservation
areas.
These majestic birds need our
help.
Martial Eagle
The Martial
Eagle - Polemaetus bellicosus - is the largest eagle found in Africa. It is found in open and semi-open habitats of sub-Saharan
Africa. Its preferred habitat is the semi-desert
and open savannah. These eagles are mainly resident, although immature birds
may wander great distances.
Description
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 Martial eagle weighs in at 14 pounds and has a wingspan of about
6 feet 4 inches. The adult's plumage has dark brown upperparts, head and upper
chest. The body underparts are white spotted with black. The underwing coverts
are brown, with pale flight feathers, also streaked with black. The female is
usually larger and more spotted than the male. The immature is paler above and
has white underparts. It reaches adult plumage in its seventh year.
Call
A loud call 'klee-klee-klee-kloeee-kloeee-kuleee'
on the wing during the breeding season and a weak whistling “hlueee-oh” high
pitched, near the nest or when it is excited.
Food
Its diet is made
up of birds, reptiles and mammals. Birds include egyptian geese, guineafowl and
bustards. Reptiles include large snakes and lizards while mammalian prey is
made up of hyrax, small antelope, monkeys and occasionally goats, and lambs. It
does most of its hunting aerially, soaring high in the air so that it can spot
prey up to 6 km away. Once it finds something, it descends in a long swoop,
dropping to the ground with wings and tail spread striking the prey. Most prey
items weigh between 1 and 5 kilograms.
Breeding
A solitary
nester, with a pair bond that often lasts several breeding seasons. The female
builds the nest which consists of a large platform of sticks. It is typically
placed in a large, forked branch below the canopy of a large tree or in
high-tension pylon.
The egg-laying
season is from February to August. Normally a single egg is laid and incubated
by the female for between 48 to 53 days. The chick is brooded almost constantly
by the female for 2-3 weeks, after which she starts to assist the male with
hunting to provide for their young. The chick typically leaves the nest at between
90 to 109 days old. The fledgling continues to roost in the nest for another 3
to 8 months, still provided with food from the female. The fledgling leaves its
parents' territory at the start of the following breeding season.
Conservation Status – Vulnerable
Vulnerable in South Africa and Endangered in Namibia, largely due to persecution on
farmlands. This species is currently experiencing a major decline in numbers in
areas where they come into contact with humans. Domestic animals constitute
only a small proportion of their diet, whereas the presence of these eagles is
a sure sign of a healthy environment. Reduction in natural prey may lead to an
increase in predation on domestic animals which may in turn lead to increased
persecution by farmers. In some areas birds may be taken for use in traditional
medicine. The preservation of this species depends on education of farmers, and
the direct protection of nesting sites.
Bird watching
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Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
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