The African Fish Eagle is a large species of eagle found in sub Saharan Africa where large bodies of water are found. It is the national bird of Malawi, Namibia. Zambia and Zimbawe. This eagle is a large bird weight. 3.2 to 3.6 kg. The female is larger than male. It is a bird of prey feeding on fishes. The head, breast and tail of African fish eagles are snow White. Face is yellow.
The eyes are dark brown in colour. The hook shaped beak is suitable for carnivorus life style. It is yellow with a black tip. The feet have rough souls and are equipped with powerful talons to grasp the aquatic prey. The shrill voice of African fish eagle is called the voice of Africa. It is the spirit or essence of Africa.
African Fish eagles bread during the dry season. Pairs often maintain two or more nests. Nests are of big size-6.5 ft across and 3.9 ft deep. The female lays one to three eggs which are white with reddish speckles. Incubaton is mostly done by the female. Male also incubates when female goes for hunting. Incubation lasts for 43 to 45 days. Then the chicks hatch. The chicks depend on parents for three months. Those that survive their first year have a life expectancy of some 12 to 24 years.
The African fish eagle feeds mainly on fish, snatching the prey from the water with its large, clawed talons, flying back to the tree. This species usually catch fish of weight around 200 g to 1000 g. But fish of around 4200 gram can also be taken by the eagle. If the fish is too heavy, eagle swims with the catch to the shore. Mallets and catfish are common prey. Telpia, lung fish, characins can also be taken.
It also feeds on birds, mainly water birds such as ducks, commorents, grebes, derters herons, egrets. African fish eagles also steal the catch of other birds like Goliath herons, kingfishers, pelicans, ospreys.
The Madagaskar Fish eagle is the closest relative of African fish eagle. They form a distinct species pair. They retain the ancestral dark beak, talon, and eye.
The peregrine fund has been monitoring populations of African fish eagles at lake Naivasha in Kenya Since 1994. Scientists have found that the number of eagles is connected to the lakes water level and annual commercial fish catches. Biologists are studying the populations of eagles to better understand what factors affect breeding success. They need the cooperation of local communities and governments to preserve the this very special birds of prey.
Fish, Fish, Fish, The African fish eagle is a true fisherman, According to Science due to total internal reflection the position of the fish inside water is not correctly known. Then how Fish eagle knows the accurate position of the fish and catches it. It is a God gift.
Protecting the continent’s lakes from pollution and over fishing are two significant steps to help the conservation of the African fish eagle.
(The views expressed are the writer’s own.)
Radhakanta Seth is an Income tax officer in Sambalpur. He is a Freelance writer and his articles have been published in some Oriya dailies like Sambad, Samaj, Dharitri and English dailies like The Telegraph and in a sociological journal ‘Folklore’ published from Kolkata.