A familiar sight on many an African safari, the agile bateleur is a remarkable eagle which adapts well to life in a zoo or bird park. BILL NAYLOR offers his experience of this charismatic species
ONE doesn’t need a field guide to identify a bateleur eagle (Terothopius ecaudatus). In appearance and behaviour it is totally different from other eagles and other birds of prey, and it’s these differences that have resulted in it being classified in its own genus.
A bird of the open plains of Africa, also found locally in Arabia, the bateleur is a familiar bird to anyone who has watched African wildlife documentaries. As it’s usually the most attractive raptor in the vicinity, the camera operator will often home in on this red-faced bird of prey, which is unperturbed by human activity or being filmed up close.
Apart from owls, the bateleur eagle is probably the most popular raptor housed in zoos and bird parks. Surprisingly, this eagle will dominate larger birds, but it can live in harmony with vultures in communal bird-of-prey exhibits (such exhibits are usually groups of nonbreeding birds). As it takes readily to captivity and can become very tame, it has also been a popular participant in falconry displays worldwide for some time and has lived for 50 years in captivity. The first UK breeding, according to Dave Coles’s First Breedings was in 1982.
Denne historien er fra October 18, 2017-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
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Denne historien er fra October 18, 2017-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The World's Best-Known Hummingbird?
Intensively studied, the gem-like Anna’s hummingbird is a welcome visitor to the gardens of America’s most populous state: California. Bill Naylor investigates its life history
The charm of the English Cinnamon
Despite its long and complicated history, the true Cinnamon canary is still with us – in the hands of a tiny group of breeders. DONALD SKINNER-REID reckons it deserves wider appreciation
Spangles: a personal overview
FRED WRIGHT relates a budgie story of over-exploitation, consequent problems and abundant potential for the future
New converts to old breeds
Old and rare canaries have a reputation for adding fresh interest and challenge to the hobby. PETE HOOK and NICK JOY agree, and explain the birds’ charm to Dave Brown
Themed aviaries are a hit with the public at annual Stafford show
DECORATIVE AVIARY DISPLAYS from a CBS and an online bird keeping advice group were voted in the top three by visitors for the inaugural Stafford Aviary Competition.
Pieds with potential
More than just a lesser variety, the dominant pied will introduce challenge and change into most studs, reckons CLIVE WAKEMAN. Here he discusses pairings to try and others to avoid
Club News
Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that’s all about you Results: convention, specialist & rare and Breeder of the Year
Canaries Month by Month:
With Christmas around the corner, BRIAN KEENAN is well into his winter programme, and reckons he might deserve a nice outcross
Smart Choice, Docile Nature
Dave Brown welcomes the masked grassfinch to his birdroom and shares advice on this lovely Australian species
The truth about the ‘flying toad'
Odd local names and weird superstitions can’t hide the beauty and elegance of the nightjar, a species that has made a fascinating subject in a few zoo collections, reveals BILL NAYLOR