Not often I got to see birds of prey when in Kenya. I only got to see each species once but on the other hand I did get to see quite a lot of species.
The Martial Eagle is a very large eagle, with a length of 76-96 cm, a wingspan of 188-260 cm, and a weight of 3.1-6.2 kg. The female is usually larger and more spotted than the male and this one is a female. The juveniles are paler above with white underparts. It reaches adult plumage in its seventh year.
It is never common, but greater population densities do exist in southern Africa, especially in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Generally, these birds are more abundant in protected areas such as Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa or Etosha National Park, in Namibia.
The diet of the Martial Eagle varies greatly with prey availability. Birds up to the size of a stork can be taken, but it more often chooses medium-sized ground-dwelling species such as francolins, guinea fowl or bustards. In some areas mammals constitute the greater part of its diet, with such species as hares, young baboons, hyraxes, mongooses, young impalas, and adult duikers. Remarkably, this powerful aggressive bird has been recorded as preying on 32 kg duikers, which they would have to leave and return to the kill site to feed on repeatedly.
They nest in trees and the nests are huge, used year after year, measuring 2 m in diameter and 0.9 m deep. They have a slow breeding rate, laying at most one egg every two years.
As most other species this species suffers from persecution through shooting and poisoning, but also from indirect threats, such as collision with power-lines. Another hazard is caused by steep sided farm reservoirs, in which many birds drown.
Posted by Jarfr on 2011-02-28 22:20:26
Tagged: , Acacia , Acacia drepanolobium , Africa , Afrika , Aguila , Aves , Bird , Birds of prey , Eagle , Eastern/Rift Valley , Event , Fabaceae , Falconiformes , Fauna , Flora , Fågel , Kenya , Marsabit National Reserve , Martial Eagle , Pea family , Plantae , Plants , Polemaetus bellicosus , Region , Rift Valley Province , Rovfåglar , Safari , Samburu District , Samburu Isiolo Game Reserve , Samburu National Reserve , Stridsörn , Växtriket , Whistling Thorn , female , hona , tree , träd , vild , wild , Ärtväxter , Örn , KEN
