Nature’s Corner – Eagles do not catch flies, but termites are welcome!

22/04/2022

| By Alana Bailey

Wahlberg’s eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi) is also known in Afrikaans as the brown eagle. They are named after the Swedish naturalist, Johan August Wahlberg. Their colour is polymorphic, which means each individual’s colour combinations are unique, ranging from dark chocolate brown to dark grey. They are usually found in tree-rich savannas in the sub-Saharan region. It is estimated that there are about 50 000 pairs in South Africa. The diet of these eagles consists mainly of reptiles, especially lizards and snakes.

In addition, they hunt small and medium-sized birds, as well as small mammals. Here, however, a Wahlberg’s eagle feasts with swifts on termites along the Letaba River in the Kruger National Park.

The footage has once again been provided by Katie and André of Two-V Productions. We thank them for their great videos. Please subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow their Facebook page. Books in their Op Vlerke series can be ordered from Kraal Uitgewers and should be available in the shops in the rest camps of the Kruger National Park soon. Number four in the series is available now! Please note that the books are published in Afrikaans only.