A Wonderful Bird Festival in Kruger National Park
During a recent visit to Kruger National Park, I had the pleasure of exploring the Mananga Trail. This hidden pathway runs alongside the meandering Nwanetsi River near Satara, offering a peaceful retreat for a remarkable variety of wildlife – including an abundance of birds!
As an avid birdwatcher, I found Kruger National Park to be a true paradise for bird enthusiasts. Along this serene trail near the popular Satara rest camp, I was treated to the magnificent sight of secretary birds, bateleur eagles, saddle-billed storks, and African hawk eagles gracefully swooping through the air. The ground beneath me was adorned with the shadows they cast. To my delight, vibrant pops of color were added by wire-tailed swallows, white-fronted bee-eaters, lilac-breasted rollers, and Cape glossy starlings, all amidst the lush green and earthy brown foliage. Following the calls of oxpeckers and cattle egrets, I discovered majestic herds of elephants, buffalo, and hippopotamuses seeking refuge from the scorching sun.
The brown snake eagle is a remarkable bird that can often be spotted perched on trees in the Kruger Park. They have a unique hunting technique, swooping down on snakes and breaking their spines with their strong talons while biting their heads at the same time. It’s quite a sight to witness! Take a look at this photo captured by Chloe Cooper.
When I set out on the drive to Satara, it was anything but boring. Even on the main roads, we were constantly halted by passing zebra, kudu, giraffe, and impala. Elephants grazed near the roadside, while white rhinos flicked their ears and dipped their horned heads. To our surprise, we spotted not one, but two hidden lion prides in the golden grass. And then, the excitement grew as two cheetah brothers emerged from the veld, setting the stage for an evening hunt. The guineafowl and francolins darted and squawked, desperately evading our vehicle, while the treetops came alive with the colorful flight of lilac-breasted rollers, grey go-away birds, fork-tailed drongos, and magpie shrikes.
Hey there! I want to tell you about two remarkable birds that I recently came across. The first one is the Lilac-breasted roller. These birds are famous for their stunning feathers and their spectacular way of flying. They dive towards the ground in a rolling motion, which is quite a sight to see. I was lucky enough to capture a photo of one of them, thanks to Chloe Cooper.
The second bird is the crowned lapwing. I spotted a pair of them on a road, making a lot of noise and drawing attention to themselves. It seemed like they were protecting their nest, as lapwings can get quite defensive when they have eggs. They even spread their wings out wide to intimidate any potential threats. Chloe Cooper also managed to take a photo of the lapwings in action.
When I first saw the southern ground hornbill, it really caught my eye. This bird looks like something out of a prehistoric era, with its strange appearance and unique features. It has these beautiful blue eyes that sparkle, and its lashes are long and luxurious. What distinguishes it even more is its bright red wattle, which adds a pop of color to its overall look. I also noticed a juvenile hornbill with the adults, and it was just as big as them. However, it had black feathers instead of the striking black plumage of the adults, and its wattle was blue-gray in color.
Getting to observe these endangered birds up close was a real treat. They were so close to our vehicles, and I could even see the young hornbill experimenting with its beak, as if it was learning how to use it. It was fascinating to witness. You see, southern ground hornbills engage in cooperative breeding. In a group of 2 to 10 birds, there is only one female that lays eggs, and this only happens once every nine years! It’s quite a rare occurrence.
Unfortunately, the southern ground hornbills face many challenges. Their unique breeding and nesting behavior, combined with the destruction of their natural habitat, has put these beautiful birds in a vulnerable position. In fact, they are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list, which means their survival is at risk. It’s important that we raise awareness about their situation and work towards their conservation.
Wow, have you ever seen an adult southern ground-hornbill up close? They are magnificent creatures! These birds like to hang out in groups of about 4 or 5 and they aren’t even scared of approaching vehicles. Isn’t that crazy? In fact, they once caused a massive traffic jam! I bet that was quite a sight to see. Just look at this breathtaking photo taken by Chloe Cooper!
When I was at Satara rest camp, something truly special happened. I got to see my very first African scops owl! It was peacefully asleep among the lush green leaves of a tree. I always imagined owls to be big, but this little scops owl was much smaller than I expected. And let me tell you, it was undeniably cute! This little guy was so content, just posing for the camera like a pro. So sweet! Did you know that scops owls don’t roost in tree holes like other owls? Nope, they have their own unique way of staying still. They blend right in with the tree bark because their feathers are streaked and mottled for camouflage. And get this, they even have ear tufts, although you can’t see them in this picture. Amazing, right? These tufts help break the owl’s profile, making it even harder to spot. Nature is just so fascinating!
Ever notice how animals seem to disappear right before our eyes? It’s like they have a superpower that allows them to blend in with their surroundings. Take the African scops owl, for example. This little bird is a master of disguise, hiding among the bark of trees in woodland habitats. It’s so good at blending in that you might not even realize it’s there!
I was really lucky to have been traveling with someone who knows a lot about birds and falconry. We were so excited when we spotted a magnificent martial eagle perched on the top of a tree. This eagle is the biggest one in Africa, and it can carry prey that weighs up to 8kgs! Believe it or not, it even hunts animals as large as impalas. The way it hunts is quite fascinating – it’s called “ambush hunting.” The martial eagle patiently waits on a tree branch, perfectly still, and then swoops down to catch its unsuspecting prey. With incredibly sharp vision, it can spot food from as far as 6km away. These eagles like to explore from high up in the sky, covering a huge area of land that can be as big as 1000 square kilometers.
When I saw this photo of a fierce martial eagle, it caught my attention right away. Look at its intense gaze as it searches the surroundings for its next meal. The photographer, Chloe Cooper, captured this stunning image perfectly.
On our way out of the Phalaborwa gate, we got stopped again by some movement high up in the trees. It was so exciting! We all turned our attention to a tall and skinny bird called a saddle-billed stork. It was sitting way up on a branch with no leaves. But here’s the really cool part – right beside it was a little baby stork! The baby was all fluffy and gray and just stood there, not moving at all. We stayed and watched for a while (it’s always good to take breaks on your way out) and the stork pair didn’t do much. The grown-up bird just cleaned its feathers while the baby looked like it was struggling to keep its balance up there. Maybe it was trying to leave the nest but got stuck halfway? We figured the adult stork was there to cheer it on and give it some support, even though it didn’t say anything.
Wow, the sight of those Saddle-billed storks and their juvenile was absolutely breathtaking! These magnificent birds may be big, but did you know they actually build their nests in trees? It’s incredible to think that after the eggs have been incubated, the chicks remain in the nest for a whopping 100 days before they take flight.
On the particular day I visited, I was lucky enough to witness an extraordinary display of avian beauty. But here’s the thing, it wasn’t just a show put on exclusively for me – the Kruger National Park is teeming with more than 500 species of birds! Can you believe it? This place is truly a bird lover’s paradise.
If you thought my sightings were a treat, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the incredible bird sightings captured in the video by Dave Jackson. It’s a compilation of some of the most spectacular moments that I couldn’t squeeze into this blog. Trust me, this footage will leave you in awe!
