Honeycomb Habitats

A selection of interesting diurnal raptors live in these nine enclosures. Each enclosure is built to suit the needs of the raptor housed inside.  Here you will see the migratory Yellow-billed kite and the little Black-shouldered kite; two very different kinds of raptor, although they share the same name. The double-jointed African Harrier hawk is fascinating to watch as she forages for her food and the Cuckoo-hawk is a bird that few of us have seen in the wild. Some rare Taita falcons can also be seen on display. They are bred by our facility and are the only specimens bred and on view in the country. And for those who are learning how to identify their birds of prey we have the African Hawk-eagles to increase your confusion!

This is their story...

Chicken , a Lanner falcon (Afrikaans - edelvalk, Scientific name - Falco biarmicus) tiercel, (the falconry term for male), is now flying his fifth season. He was found poisoned on the Wild Coast as a youngster that had just left the nest. His parents must have fed him poisoned meat and the stress on his body retarded his systemic and feather growth. He was a weak youngster who took nearly three years to get strong and learn to fly well. He is called Chicken because he is also a secondary imprint and cackles like a chicken to his handlers. This is admittedly a very poor name for a speedy Lanner falcon who now is none less than a 'turbo chicken'.

T he Taita Falcons (Afrikaans -  Taitavalk, Scientific name -  Falco fasciinucha) on display at the Sanctuary were the first of their species to be bred in South Africa. The original breeding pair came from the mountain range just west of southern Kruger Park and were held at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre until a panel of experts decided that they should be transferred the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary to initiate a breeding program. This ‘rare’ little falcon derives its name from the place that the species was first collected - Taita in Kenya. They nest in erosion holes in sheer cliffs and tend to live in the same terrain as Peregrine falcons. Competition with this larger species is a possible reason for their rarity. They hunt mainly small birds and protect their nests aggressively.

Jelly Bean the African Harrier-hawk (Afrikaans name - Kaalvangvalk) is one of the most well known characters at the Sanctuary. Her enclosure is right in front of the café so that she can see everything going on.  She is a very clever and inquisitive lady and loves to talk (but sadly with her feet!) She lures unsuspecting visitors (normally men!) to her enclosure by blushing furiously and then, when they are right up close, she shoots a foot through the mesh and zaps whatever she can reach. She has 'zapped' numerous unsuspecting victims – despite the signs warning of her dexterity. The double-jointed leg of the harrier hawk is in fact quite distinctive to the species and enables them to successfully hunt weaver birds out of nests or lizards out from nooks and crevices.

YBK (affectionately called Yibes) is an adult Yellow-billed kite (Milvus migrans parasitus). She is a great flier and makes the most of the easterly breezes that blow up the valley into the amphitheatre and glides merrily overhead catching her food reward on the wing. Luckily her stomach rules and she comes down when you bring out 'the big piece' of meat.
She is certainly "all girl" and chats constantly, making it very difficult for her shy mate, Bart, to get a word in edgeways. In the summer months her noisy talk often attracts the wild kites that migrate annually from central east-Africa and they join her in the air - to see what all the fuss is about of course!

Rox is a captive-bred African Goshawk female (Accipiter tachiro). She was bred at the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary from two non-releasable parents. Her mom has one wing and her dad has one eye, but they breed successfully every year! She completed a season of hunting before retiring to a more sedate lifestyle of flying in displays. Rox is queen of the short, sharp dash and shows off her maneuverability and hunting skills by chasing a ground-lure across the arena. Beware too the brave lizard, butterfly or bird that ventures into her flying arena! African goshawks abound in KwaZulu-Natal and can be seen hunting in and around suburban gardens.

                                    Skyscapes
There is no more exciting sound in all nature than the angry, raucous rasp of a peregrine challenging all who enter its domain. Nor a more magnificent sight than its dark silhouette emblazoned on a cloud, the unmistakable hallmark of nature's perfection.

R.B.Trevleaven