HAMERKOP
04 October 2018
It waits.
Patiently scanning the frothing water for the tell- tale silver flash of a fish or a frog to come just into reach of its every ready bill.
The Hamerkop (directly translated into hammer head) is one of the most fascinating birds found near the watercourses of Kaingo.
Feeding on a combination of fish, frogs and insects, this bird will wade into the water without fear of being caught by crocodiles or other predators.
For that they are far too aware of their surroundings. It will lunge at prospective prey, sometimes submerging the whole head in the process. Unfortunately, only about 54% of all lunges culminates in food!
This bird builds some of the largest nests in the bird kingdom. It is a sight to behold! Both the male and the female will build the nest, beginning with a disc shape in a high tree or on a cliff. This is then built further with sides, then a roof. And then some more…
The average nest weighs between 20kg and 50kg, and can withstand the weight of a leopard, who will sometimes, use this handy platform for an arboreal resting spot…if the fleas living in the old hamerkop nest will allow it.
Our local cultures, and indeed my own family, have great fear and reverence for this bird. It is believed that, if a hamerkop dares to sit on the roof of a house, that house will be hit by lighting. Killing it is also a great taboo, as this will unleash a drought on the farm of the perpetrator.
All of this in legend and fables of course, designed to protect and save this very interesting citizen of the Waterberg bushveld.
BUSHVELD GREETINGS