Transcript Slide 1

Familiar Chat
Newsletter of BirdLife Botswana
December 2014
A world without vultures would be truly frightening and sad. We don't ever want to know what that world would look like!
A world without vultures would be a foul-smelling place filled with disease and rotting carcasses —
let’s hear it for these unsung environmental heroes! One of the environment’s most necessary
creatures.
Vultures may not be the prettiest birds of prey, but they are well adapted to their lifestyle. They are large
birds with a wide wingspan, which allows them to soar for long periods so they can look for carrion without
flapping so much as a feather. They all have a sharp, hooked beak for ripping apart meat. A strong immune
system allows vultures to eat rotting and possibly infected meat without getting sick, but this doesn’t help
against poison.
It is estimated that Cape Vultures can live up to 70 years, but only 20% live to maturity at 7 years.
Ms Tsogo Dudu Bethel – Vulture Awareness Coordinator, Birdlife Botswana
Why do vultures have bald heads and necks?
It was always thought the lack of feathers was to help the bird keep clean, but whilst this may
be an advantage, researchers discovered the primary reason is quite different.. regulation of
body temperature!
Vultures often endure high temperatures whilst at ground level and very low temperatures
whilst soaring high in the sky.
By tucking the neck a bird can reduce heat loss by 50%, by sticking the neck out the bird
increases heat loss by 25%! (Glasgow University News March 2008)
Vultures are uniquely equipped to keep the
environment clean and help prevent the
spread of disease. Pictured: Lappet-faced
vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) (Mass 6.6Kg
Wingspan 2.64m)
Show your support buy a T-shirt from the BLB shop
KEEP CALM AND CARRION
Pel’s Fishing Owl
This last OWL article, number seven in the series, is dedicated to
Pel’s Fishing Owl. In his article “the haunting PEL’S FISHINGOWL” published in AFRICA BIRDS & BIRDING Dec. 2006/Jan.
2007, Pete Hancock states “ … Pel’s Fishing-Owl is a creature
with an indefinable mystique, an aura that sets it apart from
other birds. With the possible exception of the Shoebill, this owl
is Africa’s ‘It’ bird, registering high on local and international
birders’
most-wanted
lists.”
Also
in
the
latest
(November/December 2014) AFRICA BIRDS & BIRDING there
are two articles mentioning the “elusive” Pel’s Fishing Owl and
how it was on many birders’ lists of birds they would like to see.
However, you could be lucky as this owl can be seen in
Botswana, especially in the Okavango Delta, although it is not
always easy to spot! I fortunately have had very good sightings,
first on the 2012 BirdLife Botswana trip to Xigera in the Delta
and then on the 2014 BirdLife trip to Shakawe on the Okavango
River. As these owls are monogamous and often roost and nest
in the same place over years, a local guide could probably help
you see one. If in the area of a nest or roosting place you might
hear the distinctive deep, hoot Hooommm-hut and a gruff
grunting huhuhu. This owl is truly amazing and worth the effort
to try and see one if you are in their habitat areas.
What happened when the owl lost his voice? He didn't give a hoot!
This owl vies with the Verreaux’s/Giant Eagle Owl in being the
tallest owl in Botswana. Most guide books list them of about
the same height but some consider Pel’s Fishing Owl to be
slightly taller. Pel’s does have extremely long wings. However,
the Giant Eagle Owl is considered by many to be taller and
probably weighs more than Pel’s Fishing Owl. Pete Hancock
and Douglas Wright reported that a Giant Eagle Owl was
observed catching and killing a Pel’s Fishing Owl at Kanana
Camp in the Delta. In the Complete Book of Southern African
Birds by P.J. Ginn, et al. they reported another such attack,
although unsuccessful, recorded from the Okavango River.
Giant Eagle Owls are known to prey on other owls, usually
smaller ones, but also including the Barn Owl.
Pel’s Fishing Owl is quite
distinctive looking not only
for its size but also for its
attractive coloring that is a
rufous-brown
on
its
upperparts and a lighter
cinnamon-brown on its chest
and other underparts. It has
darker streaks, bars and
other markings on its chest
and underparts and dark
barring on its upperparts.
When disturbed it fluffs out
its head feathers which gives
a large, round look to the
head. Pel’s facial disc is not
as distinct as those of other
owls, but its large dark
brown eyes dominate its
face.
Pel’s Fishing Owl requires a special habitat, which is riverine forest.
Tall trees lining the river banks along the Linyanti and Okavango Rivers
and in parts of the Okavango Delta are where these owls can be found
in Botswana. They fish at night but rest in riverside trees that have
dense foliage (lots of leaves) during daytime. Roost trees along the
river may be stained with white from the owl’s droppings or have a
deposit of pellets containing fish remains at the base. If not overly
disturbed the owls usually stay at or near their roosting place, making
observation possible. As these owls nest in tall trees on the edge of
rivers, they look for a tree that has a hole that might have been made
from a large, falling limb or even a place on a tree where several
branches come out together making a bowl. They, like other owls, do
not build their own nest nor do they line the nest places they find
with grass or feathers. Usually two eggs are laid but only one chick
survives and fledges (is able to fly and leave the nest). The younger
chick is not able to compete with the first-hatched chick and dies. The
older chick reportedly does not kill the younger one (“Cain and Able”
struggle) as do some other raptors. The incubation and nestling times
are longer than most owls and so with longer care periods once the
chick has fledged, Pel’s Fishing Owl only breeds once every two years.
February, March and April are the breeding months.
Resources consulted for this article are:
A Beginner’s Guide OWLS by G. Lockwood
Birds of Botswana by K. Newman
Nests & Eggs of Southern Africa by W. Tarboton
Owls & Owling by W. Tarboton and R. Erasmus
Pel’s Fishing-Owl Scotopelia peli falls prey to Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Bubo
lacteus in the Okavango Delta – by D. Wright and P. Hancock
The Complete Book of Southern African Birds by P.J. Ginn, et al.
“The haunting PEL’S FISHING-OWL “ by P.Hancock in Africa Birds &
Birding 12-2006/1-2007
Pel’s fishes at night and is amazing in its ability to fly down from a perch in
complete darkness and catch a fish under water. The underparts of its toes
have spiny points that help the owl to hang on to a wet fish. Although most
of its diet consists of fish, it is reported that it occasionally catches frogs,
crabs and small, young crocodiles.
Should you not be able to see a Pel’s Fishing Owl in the wild, an alternative
opportunity to appreciate this owl is in Tim Liversedge’s film “Haunt of the
Fishing-Owl” that documents his long-term fascinating research on this owl.
A Frenchman walks into a bar with a parrot on his shoulder. The bartender asks, "Where did you
get that thing?" The parrot replies, "In France, there are millions of them!"
12th to the 19th November 2014.
The World Parks congress is an IUCN initiative to help the world find
pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environmental
and
developmental challenges. The focus is on protected areas around the
world. The First World Parks Congress (WPC) was in 1962 in Seattle, USA,
and is consequently held every ten years. The last WPC was in Durban,
South Africa in 2003, where there was a considerable number of
participants from Africa.
The World Parks Congress 2014 forum aim was to identify and
communicate inspiring solutions involving protected areas for some of
the world’s most pressing global challenges. It brought together around
3,000 people from over 160 countries, to reflect on proven approaches
for protected area governance and management, to inspire people from
all sectors to build a much deeper connection to nature, and to shape
and guide the implementation of innovative solutions for people and
protected areas for the next decade and beyond.
Participation of BirdLife Botswana was mainly through sharing of
experiences from a project titled ‘Strategic Partnerships to Improve the
Financial and Operational Sustainability of Protected Areas in
Botswana’ implemented by BirdLife Botswana in association with the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP, statutory agency
managing Botswana’s PAs), and the Department of Environmental Affairs
(Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) focal point).
By Motsheeganyi Virat Kootsositse
IUCN -International Union for Conservation of Nature
The main highlights from the project were that the IUCN-WCPA, for
example, has developed an effective management framework which
provides a consistent basis for designing evaluation systems for
protected areas. To understand the extent to which the efficiency and
sustainability of current financial and operational models are
implemented in Africa, a five year study funded by the Global
Environment facility GEF/UNDP was done for protected area networks
in Botswana and key issues related to inability by responsible parties to
associate or relate with the cost benefit of protected area
management.
On behalf of BirdLife Botswana, Motsheeganyi Virat Kootsositse
participated - to learn and be inspired by others and also to inspire
others.
Among others he, provided three different kinds of
presentations. An E-poster, a side event and a session with a focus on
governance. The idea of the interactions from across the world was to
discuss and interconnect, inspire and get inspired.
“The Promise of Sidney”
1. Promise to INVIGORATE our efforts to ensure that protected areas
do not regress but rather progress,
2. Promise to INSPIRE all people, across generations, geography and
cultures to experience the wonder of nature through protected areas,
to engage their hearts and minds and engender a life-long association
for physical, psychological, ecological, and spiritual well-being.
3. Promise to INVEST in nature’s solutions, supported by public policy,
incentives, tools and safeguards that help to halt biodiversity loss,
mitigate and respond to climate change, reduce the risk and impact of
disasters, improve food and water security, and promote human health
and dignity. We hope this was achieved. The next World Parks Congress
will be in ten years.
Bird Idioms - wordsearch
Fill in the blanks for these ‘bird’
idioms then find them on the grid –
If you want to check their meaning go to www.idiomcollection.com
A) An ----- bird gets there first
B) As ---- as a bird
C) He is a bird ----D) A ------ bird told me
E) A bird’s eye ---F) -------- for the birds
G) --- like a bird
H) Birds of a ------- flock together
I) ---- two birds with one ----J) The bird has ----K) The birds and the ---L) The early bird catches the ---M) A bird in the ---- is worth two in the ---N) As -------- as a swan
O) A chicken and --- situation
P) He --------- out
Q) Scarce as hen’s ----R) ----as a coot
BIRDS in the NEWS
www.sciencedaily.com
Seabirds and other marine animals
are at risk from hundreds of
thousands of tonnes of plastic
floating around in the oceans. The
smaller fragments are less than
1mm and are easily incorporated
into the food chain. Larger pieces
often cause death when eaten.
The number of Tawny Owls in
the UK has dropped by 30%
over the past 40 years
Golden winged Warblers evacuated
their nesting site in advance of the US
tornadoes in April 2014 – and returned
afterwards. It is believes the birds can
detect low frequency ‘infrasound’
which travels long distances.
Crows have the brain power to solve
higher-order, relational-matching tasks,
and they can do so spontaneously,
according to new research. That means
crows join humans, apes and monkeys in
exhibiting advanced relational thinking.
1)
How many species of birds are there in the world?
a) 100,000 b) 50,000 c) 10,000
2) What is the fastest flying bird?
a) peregrine falcon b) albatross c ) cape swallow
3) What is the highest altitude that a bird has been seen?
a) 12,000m b) 8,000m c) 4,500m
4) How many feathers are there on a swan?
a) 20,000 b) 10,000 c) 50,000
5) How long do most birds live (approximately)?
a) 1yr b) 10 yrs c) 5 yrs
6) What are some of the man-made threats to birds?
a) collisions with buildings b) domestic cats
c) habitat destruction d) all of the above
7) What are the largest and smallest birds?
a) ostrich / bee hummingbird
b) albatros / bee hummingbird
c) ostrich / goldcrest
Bird Idioms - ANSWERS
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)
P)
Q)
EARLY
FREE
BRAIN
LITTLE
VIEW
STRICTLY
EAT
FEATHER
KILL / STONE
FLOWN
BEES
WORM
HAND / BUSH
GRACEFUL
EGG
CHICKENED
TEETH
Answer: There are some 9,567 bird species
recognized worldwide. New species are
occasionally discovered in remote areas of the
world. About 700 species of birds occur in North
America. In the fossil record, some 150,000
species of birds have been identified. Since there
are less than 10,000 species living today, most of
the birds that have existed on this planet are
now extinct.
Answer: The fastest bird known is the Peregrine
Falcon. These birds can dive at speeds in excess
of 320 Km per hour!!! Other flight speeds range
from a relatively slow 45 Km per hour for the
hummingbirds, 142 Km per hour for the Spurwinged Goose and the Barn Swallow and 130
Km per hour for some ducks.
Answer: Birds fly at many altitudes, depending on where they are
going and the purpose for their travel. Most birds fly within a few
hundred feet off the ground. Birds migrating over large distances
often select higher altitudes to take advantage of favorable
winds. Some birds have been observed at very high altitudes.
Geese can fly over the highest mountain, Mount Everest, at an
altitude above 10,000m In South America, the Condor has been
observed at altitudes close to 7,000m . A vulture collided with a
jetliner over West Africa at an altitude at an altitude of 12,000m.
Answer: Birds have been around much longer than the
things man has created that cause their death. Many
birds are lost each year to collisions with buildings,
windows, radio and TV towers, lighthouses and other
objects. Man�s introduction of animals and insects to
different parts of the world has had a devastating impact
on bird populations. Pet cats and feral cats, for example,
kill an estimated 2 billion birds in North America each
year. Development of land removes habitat areas such
as wetlands, forests, fields, beaches and other areas that
birds depend on for food and shelter, especially on long
migrations. Many species of bird are now extinct due to
these factors. Many more species are threatened with
extinction. Each of us must do our part to preserve
important habitats if we and future generations are to
enjoy these interesting creatures.
Answer:
The tiny Ruby-throated
Hummingbird has relatively few feathers
at 940. At the other extreme, the Swan
has some 20,000 feathers.
All about BIRDS ANSWERS
Answer: Birds live a very precarious life surrounded by many natural and manmade dangers. Banding studies demonstrate that most birds die in their first
year of life. If a bird survives its first year, it has a chance of living for several
years. Some records for different species include 23.25 years for the Great Blue
Heron, 23.5 years for the Canada Goose, 18.33 years for the Blue Jay, 15.75
years for the Red-winged Blackbird, and 15.75 years for the Northern Cardinal.
Answer: The largest living bird is the Ostrich. With a weight of up to 140kg
and standing up to 2m tall, this flightless bird is probably the fastest running
bird. Ostriches have been clocked running at speeds up to 100 km per hour.
The smallest bird is the Bee Hummingbird found in Cuba. It is only long and
has a wingspan of 10 cm. It weighs less than 1.8 g!
DON’T FORGET
2015 subscriptions due
EFT - BirdLife Botswana
Cheque - BirdLife Botswana
FNB Kgale View 284567
PO Box 26691
Acc# 57110052562
Game City
Swift FIRNBWGX
Gaborone
Confirm payment with [email protected]
Phone 3190540
Best Wishes
for a
Happy and Successful
2015
Advertising in
“Familiar Chat”
Is
FREE
for Corporate Members
and
Sponsors
Familiar Chat is looking for a new Editor! Everything is done on-line, so it doesn’t matter where you live!
A high standard of English language and spelling is required. Email : [email protected] for more details