Birds Of Prey Series 2006 - The Secretary Bird 2 c tickey

Birds Of Prey Series 2006 - The Secretary Bird 2 ½ c tickey

In 2003, the theme “South Africa's Birds of Prey”, commenced. The “African Eagles” were the first to be depicted, followed in 2004 by the “African Owls” and in 2005 by the “African Vultures”. In 2006 the last raptor in this series, the Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius), is featured.

Secretary Birds are usually seen in pairs and if alone, there is often a mate not far off. The Secretary Bird enjoys a great measure of protection because of its habit of killing snakes. The birds are not immune to snake venom and must take care to ensure that the snake is dead before eating it whole, if it is small enough. In fact snakes form only a small part of it’s diet although it will attack any snake regardless of danger. Its diet consists mainly of lizards, small tortoises, mice, the young of game birds, grasshoppers and even termites. 

If disturbed the birds prefer to stalk rapidly away from danger or run with wings spread, but if threatened they will take off and can fly strongly. They soar well and have been seen rising on thermals up to nearly 4 000m. Secretary Birds are silent creatures, occasionally uttering guttural croaks. Their displays consist of one or two birds soaring in wide circles or executing undulating swoops followed by downward plunges, the two often clasping each others talons in the manner of eagles. Man's activities, such as agriculture and land development on the one hand, have been detrimental to their populations, but widespread bush clearance, on the other hand, has opened up new areas of suitable habitat.

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