That huge bill has razor sharp edges and the hook at the end of it is a formidable tool for holding on to slippery lungfish. Notice that his long, long toes aren’t webbed. At that point the bird throws its entire weight behind one lightning fast lunge in order to secure its prey and make the kill. The bird can stand motionless for hours, waiting for its favorite lungfish to surface for a gulp of air. This doesn’t look good! The shoebill normally gives the impression of stillness and solemnity, but it can move quite quickly when it wants to (at least by shoebill standards). Hold on: she’s crossing the railing, wading out into the water… She tried earlier this morning to invade shoebill territory, pretending to offer delicious rats, but in a fury of flashing wings and clattering bill, was driven away! She won’t be making that foolish move again anytime soon. Shoebill’s got moves you’ve never seen…īut wait, what’s that noise? A jingling sound, footsteps. Amazing how that extraordinary, enormous hooked bill can retouch the tiniest feather with surprising delicacy and dexterity, then be wielded like a rolling pin to distribute protective powder from the shoebill’s powder-down feathers (a feature allying the species with herons), oil from the oil gland, and smooth out the smallest imperfection in the plumage. Great day to just stand around doing shoebill stuff: preen… It’s a beautiful, sunny morning in San Diego: 76 degrees, nice breeze, zero humidity (surprised?). Her mate has been coming into breeding condition lately and doesn’t want anyone near her. She may be the quiet type, but let’s face it: she’s a tall leggy looker. She’s stationed on the opposite side of the island. The situation: don’t mess with his girlfriend. There is, putting it mildly, no other bird on earth quite like him. Eats lungfish, catfish, baby crocodiles, frogs, snakes, small mammals, even birds. The suspect: male Shoebill ( Balaeniceps rex)– A strange, stork-like bird from the papyrus swamps of the Sudanese Sudd, the Ugandan White Nile, and other impenetrable, crocodile-friendly wetlands of tropical East Africa. The scene: idyllic Shoebill Island, San Diego Wild Animal Park We should definitely leave the island now. Shoebills also display by clattering their bills loudly within the span of a few seconds, a distinctive series of rapid, hollow pops–exactly like the sound of someone knocking two wooden shoes together very fast. But it usually decapitates its catch first with the sharp edges of its bill. The shoebill is capable of swallowing its prey–lungfish, catfish, snakes, frogs, lizards, small mammals, even birds and baby crocodiles–whole. He expresses his displeasure by bowing, then shaking his huge head from side to side: ” No, no, no, no, no…”īetter hurry up and swallow that last rat. Shoebill has spotted us and he doesn’t approve. Not a bad idea when your vision is paramount to your survival in the wild. Shoebills shield their eyes this way when swallowing prey or even preening. See how she draws the translucent nictitating membrane across her eye for protection? The nictitating membrane is sometimes called the third eyelid and moves horizontally across the eyeball via reflex. Good! At least someone has an appetite this morning. Let’s try one of your favorites: a delicious white rat… When a shoebill draws its head down against its breast like that, it is enhancing the effect of its binocular vision. ![]() Oh, I see– you’re trying to get a better look. The swan geese-endangered and native to parts of China, Mongolia, and Russia–certainly seem fascinated by the proceedings. Let’s wade around to the other side of the island to see if Mrs. At least we got a look at the shoebill’s nearly eight foot wingspan. It looks like a Ugandan standoff for the second time today.
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