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Project Noah Nature School
milvus aegyptius
A thirsty kite at a water hole supplied by a borehole in the hot, dry Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. With long wings and a forked tail, this raptor is a pleasent site overhead any African wilderness as it holds its wings level and wide while its tail twists constantly. Its beautiful white face and bright yellow beak and legs are its calling cards as it feeds from the wing swooping on prey which includes birds in mid air. It is often attracted to fires where it looks for unfortunate animals anable to escape the blaze. It has even been seen around termite mounds that have been ripped open by an ant eater to take advantage of the animals who come to feast on the ants.
Woodland and open habitats throughout Southern Africa
2018 / 2019 Rains failed substancialy in Sub Saharan Africa with Botswana seeing a drop in water levels in its Okovango Delta and Zimbabwe's Victoria falls at a third of its thunder. The Drought has been bad this year and we spent a week in the Northwest of Zimbabwe in Hwange National Park. I am pleased to report that good rains are expected 2019 / 2020 but they are a bit late. While it is a harsh reality to be so close to a drought situation, it has been an experience like no other for me as a watch the animals tough it out and survive. I will be posting my pictures over the next few weeks to encourage hope that nature carries on and in some cases is thriving. I am happy to report that we support two watering holes with solar pumps to assit in this time.
Spotted on Dec 3, 2019
Submitted on Dec 3, 2019
12 Comments
Wow !! very very cool. Thank you and I will definatly be adding to it very soon.
Thanks Michael, check it out, looks good on a mission - I hope it works out, and hope to see some more of your spottings in it.
Cheers
Hi Zlatan
It is my great pleasure to let you use it. Please go ahead and i hope the renewed mission goes well. :)
Hi Michael
I would like to use this spotting as the Mission photo for a renewed "Wildlife in Southern Africa" mission - (previously Wildlife in South Africa); as it was the most popular one last year.
please let me know if alright.
Cheers
Many thanks as always Machi. Hope you have a great weekend!
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Thank you so much Ava T-B!! I Really learnt so much in one week working with guides and camps in the area. I wish I could put everything down but it would be to long!!! Thank you for your kind words!!
Lovely picture and such informative notes!
Thanks so much Saturniidae27. Glad you got to see a black kite. We did have one around but he never got close to fully appreciate. :)
Nice shot Michael, I've spotted A black kite before:) https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/16...
Hi Mark!!! Thank you very much !! :) I am so so sorry about the koala who passed away after its dramatic rescue from the fires. Very sad!!
Great series !