Exploring Pigeon Valley: The African Crowned Eagle

This is the seventh in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article will be on The African Crowned Eagle.

On Saturday mid-morning I heard the unmistakeable call of an African Crowned Eagle near Pigeon Valley and later heard that two friends had seen one in the reserve. This majestic bird, the most powerful of our raptors, has, I am pleased to report, become a more frequent visitor to the area. The one pictured here was present in December. Around that time I visited a house high in the area, next door to a tall Norfolk Pine. While talking on an upper verandah I suddenly realised that the same bird was perched just a few metres from us.

What would be marvellous would having a breeding pair in the area. These eagles prey on Hadedah Ibises and monkeys as well as the occasional Red Duiker; I was once surprised to find a Duiker that had been killed and its abdomen opened out, no doubt by this bird. It will take a monkey in the most swift and merciful of ways, by pushing its talon through the eye into the brain, leaving grooves at the rear of the eye-socket.

ALSO READ: Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Water Mongoose

Lee Berger, the paleo-anthropologist of Wits University, told me how he had found a fossil of a little hominid, possibly one of our long-distant forebears, that had in its eye-socket similar grooves. He speculated that our (much smaller) ancestors feared being taken by this bird, and that humans have inherited this fear of something taking us from above. I may be a bit short, but I am only too willing to take my chances if this splendid creature is around.

Crispin Hemson chairs the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a group that undertakes clearing of alien plants, keeps records of bird and mammal sightings and alerting management to any problems.

The Friends have a monthly walk at 7.30am on the second Saturday of each month. Email: friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com.