SANParks.org Forums

We always see one sitting in the tree on the right just outside the Satara camp gate in late afternoons. Cannot think of a Kruger trip that we did not see a Martial eagle sitting in the tree.

Last year I travelled the s100 in the late mornings, and both times saw a martial not far from the s41 just before the Nsasane waterhole, it was overcast and not eagle flying weather. The kgalagadi is also excellent for martials, we always see at least half a dozen.

Well here is a puzzle which I hope someone can solve!

Happened in June this year at one of my favourite bird spots - Grootvlei on the back road to Shingwedzi (S50).

I was watching some grey heron and saddlebills in the water when a large eagle arrived and moved between various perches. A juvenile martial without a doubt.

It then settled in a tree where there was another young eagle - but what sort?

And far from being upset with each other, the marial definitely appeared to be encouraging the other young one to take its first flight. The pictures could be misinterpreted I suppose - they were definitely not fighting or angry or whatever.

Do eagles mix like this. Would one species try to fledge another. Or do very young martial look completely different (no book shows this so I don't think this is the explanation).

www.pbase.com/richardharris/eagles

Richard

In nature these two birds would not interact no matter how young they are. Looking at the photos there appears to be a nest and I would suspect (might be wrong) that the nest belongs to the Tawny and he was defending it. Seeing that the Martial is not an adult the Tawny might have been a bit bolder and stood his ground. The Martial might not have shown aggression but rather curiosity and hense the appearance of playful interaction.
Any other thoughts ?

No idea of the answer, but it is a great sequence of pics, probably worth sending through to 50/50 in my humble opinion - they will also probably be able to track down the expert able to answer the riddle.

No problem. It is an enviromental program on tv in SA, and part of it is Veldfocus to which viewers send pics and video to be adjudicated as a winning contribution.

Thanks for the advice - I have e-mailed them and they are interested.

Sending them to an 'expert' and may use them on a program at some point in the future!

Richard

Congrats Richard! Your photos were shown on the well known nature show on our TV, called 50/50. And you won yourself a tent as the best photo contribution for the week.

The 50/50 experts agree that this was not a case of the one eagle encouraging the other to fly, but was infact a quite normal, but agressive interaction between two raptors.

The Tawny is in fact an adult. It shows the adult plumage. It is the agressor. The Martial is a sub-adult and its posture shows a defensive stance.

Hi,

Sorry for the poor pic, but was taken with compact digital camera. It's taken from my trip to Kruger back in March 2003.
Only now, i've managed to recover all my pics taken from my old computer.

I have often seen martials on the s100 (WTM) especially near the Nwanetsi end. Immatures also.

Ja ja! Satara is a great habitat for all sorts of raptors. thge open plain with scattered trees is perfect for martials and the likes. I have found the Orpen road very good for martials. Best sighting of one I had was on the Matjulu bridge near BnD in March. Perched right next to the bridge in a tree.

I think this one is a martial eagle but I'm not a 100% sure (working on my website and don't want to put stupid things on there )

Yes, this is an adult Martial Eagle

I love these birds...


Hey, these pics aren't the best, it was rainy and misty when I took them..

I found this immature bird on the H5. It was practising, or so, with a rock. Every time the bird took the rock and then jumped a bit.