BirdLife South Africa is thrilled to announce that the Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is Bird of the Year 2024!
Also known as the Berghaan (Afrikaans), ingqungqulu (isiZulu), and ingqanga (isiXhosa), this magnificent raptor is famous for its striking appearance and remarkable aerial behaviour. Surely a Bateleur soaring high above the African bushveld, with its rocking, gliding motion, is one of the most iconic sights of our country and indeed our continent?
The Bateleur is a truly charismatic and eye-catching bird of prey, with its distinctive plumage – a combination of black, white, and vibrant red-orange on the face and legs. Its common English name, Bateleur, was coined by famed French explorer, writer and ornithologist François Levaillant, and is said to be French for a “tumbler” or “tightrope walker”, which aptly describes this bird’s graceful, aerial acrobatics. Its isiZulu name, ingqungqulu, is onomatopoeic, refering to the sounds of battle drums due to the species relation to war in the Zulu culture. Also very fittingly, its scientific name, Terathopius ecaudatus, is a celebration of its marvelous face, and its short tail.
Secretarybirds build large nests in the tops of thorn trees or dense bushes and breed year-round in southern Africa. Both parents build the nest by carrying sticks and fresh vegetation to line it just before the eggs are laid.
The female does most of the incubation and is fed by the male during this time. Secretarybirds lay between one to three eggs. Siblings do not show any aggression to each other and if conditions are good, with high quantities of food available, it is likely that all of the chicks will fledge successfully.
Both adults feed the chicks by regurgitating prey stored in their crops while hunting. BirdLife South Africa keeps a database of Secretarybird nest locations, so if you find one please let us know.
BirdLife South Africa in collaboration with Chrissie Cloete (chrissiecandraw), and with funding from the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, are in the process of developing a series of educational tools and lesson plans which will be available for free download throughout the year (below). Chrissie has created ‘Strider’ a beautiful caricature of the Secretarybird who will be guiding learners throughout the year and teaching them about the conservation and life cycle of Secretarybirds.
BirdLife South Africa have also produced pin badges and plush toy replicas of the Secretarybird which will be available through our shop at our head office, Isdell House, in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Help us keep track of South Africa’s Secretarybirds this year! Sign up for the BIrdLasser Secretarybird Challenge by emailing [email protected]. See the current map at www.birdlasser.com/events/secretaryb2019.
