East African Crowned Crane
Balearicum reguloum Status: Least Concern Range: Eastern Congo, Uganda, Kenya & Central Tanzania. Habitat: Open marshlands, grasslands & swamps. Diet: Plants, seeds, grain, ...East African Crowned Crane
Balearicum reguloum
Status: Least Concern
Range: Eastern Congo, Uganda, Kenya & Central Tanzania.
Habitat: Open marshlands, grasslands & swamps.
Diet: Plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish & eggs.
Creature Feature: African Crowned Cranes have slate grey coloured bodies with white and brown feathers above and below the wings. They are large long legged birds with long necks. Adults are approximately 40 inches in height. On top of their heads are sets of stiff golden bristles that resemble crowns. The face has dark, white and red markings and patches.
African Crowned Cranes usually live in pairs or family groups although flocks of up to 100 birds have been observed. They are the only member of the crane family that roosts in trees. When searching for food they will stamp their feet as they walk so that and insects on the ground are flushed out and can be caught easily.
Cranes pair for life and courtship consists of dance-like motions that include behaviours such as bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing and wing flapping. 2 to 3 glossy, dirty- white eggs with small brown spots are laid and incubated for approximately 4 weeks. Both the parents participate in the incubation process. The chicks can run as soon as they hatch.
This species of crane is known as a living fossil as they lived in the Eocene period (54 to 38million years ago!). Some African people believe these birds bring rain.
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo Status: Least Concern Range: Europe & Asia Habitat: Forest and grassland Diet: Rodents, lizards. snakes, birds. Creature Feature:The Eagle Owl is one ...Eurasian Eagle Owl
Bubo buboStatus: Least Concern
Range: Europe & Asia
Habitat: Forest and grassland
Diet: Rodents, lizards. snakes, birds.
Creature Feature:The Eagle Owl is one of the largest members of the owl family. Their large size means they can hunt a large variety of prey species from lizards and snakes to large predatory birds such as buzzards, kestrels and occasionally snowy owls. Eagle Owls are active at night and will normally start their hunting trips soon after sunset. They prefer to hunt in open territories. If the owl is unable to consume all of its prey, it will bury the food and return for it the next day. During the day they will roost in the crown of a tree or on the ground under a dense bush. While roosting they are often mobbed by other species of birds such as crows who want to rid the area of predators. Eagle Owls are solitary birds although a male and female will share the same territory, usually hunting alone and roosting separately.
Once Eagle Owls have paired, that bond will last for life. Nests are often located in the shelter of a rock crevice, under an overhang or within forests on the ground under tree roots or a fallen tree trunk. 2 to 4 eggs are laid and the female will incubate them for approximately 5 weeks. The male will visit the female with a steady supply of food. The young open their eyes after 6 days and can stand after 16 days. They stay with their parents for approximately 8 weeks.
