Today’s special animal friend is Pel’s Fishing Owl, Scotopelia peli. This super cool bird that I didn’t know existed until just now is one of the largest owls in the world. They are found in many countries of southern Africa but are not widely distributed in any of them. Their habitat requirements are pretty specific; they live in large trees overhanging lakes or slow-moving rivers, and they are especially fond of islands within these bodies of water. Pel’s fishing owl feeds at night, like most owls, snatching fish and other aquatic animals from the water as it skims over the surface.
As you can see, they’re very pretty, all over rufous and gold with black barring. They are about two feet high with a wingspan of five feet. Females are bigger than males – this is common with owls – and a large female can weigh 5 lbs. They can pick up fish weighing up to 4 lbs., but they typically catch large quantities of much smaller fish, 8 oz. or so, rather than a few big ones.
During the night, especially on moonlit nights, Pel’s fishing owls perch on branches or stumps, watching for the movement of fish, amphibians, large insects, a baby crocodile, or even crustaceans, if the water is shallow. They are territorial: individuals and pairs stake out a section of river or lake bank. Breeding takes place in the drier season, when low water levels make food more accessible.
Courtship involves a great deal of hooting. Monogamous pairs nest in tree hollows near the water. The female usually lays two eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about a month while the male brings her food. The chicks are altricial – their eyes don’t even open for a week – and only one is likely to survive. Fledging takes up to three months, and the youth remains near the parents for nearly a year. If a pair successfully raises a chick, they are unlikely to breed the next season.
Pel’s fishing owl is a species of Least Concern. Because of their wide distribution, conditions that threaten one local population don’t affect the success of the species as a whole. Birds of the World says more study is needed, and I won’t argue against it.
There are three fishing owl species in the genus Scotopelia and others in the genus Ketupa, or maybe it’s all one genus, one way or another. As we say in these parts, “The taxonomy is disputed,” or we might even say “in disarray.”
Good morning. It’s a cold morning, narrowly averting frost.
One of Congress’s jobs is to oversee the regulatory agencies of the executive branch and correct them when they overstep their powers. Too often, Congress doesn’t do that, accounting for quite a few cases that make it to the courts instead. For this person to mock Congress for actually doing its job is ironical (among other things).
And product safety regulators are definitely out over their skis. I’m thinking of the ruminations at one agency to ban gas stoves (echoed in some of our larger “blue cities”). What are we, children, to be protected by an all-wise nanny state? (No, I can’t keep a straight face on that! 🤣 )
Good morning. Back from Seattle. Great trip (though it was colder than the forecast (and my packing) led me to believe. I know, I know: ironic. Was very busy. We attended 3 different birthday parties for 4 year olds in one day. I was tempted to ask the final host if they had a rope and a beam...
Today’s special animal friend is Pel’s Fishing Owl, Scotopelia peli. This super cool bird that I didn’t know existed until just now is one of the largest owls in the world. They are found in many countries of southern Africa but are not widely distributed in any of them. Their habitat requirements are pretty specific; they live in large trees overhanging lakes or slow-moving rivers, and they are especially fond of islands within these bodies of water. Pel’s fishing owl feeds at night, like most owls, snatching fish and other aquatic animals from the water as it skims over the surface.
https://ebird.org/species/pefowl1
As you can see, they’re very pretty, all over rufous and gold with black barring. They are about two feet high with a wingspan of five feet. Females are bigger than males – this is common with owls – and a large female can weigh 5 lbs. They can pick up fish weighing up to 4 lbs., but they typically catch large quantities of much smaller fish, 8 oz. or so, rather than a few big ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuzqoHWoaA
During the night, especially on moonlit nights, Pel’s fishing owls perch on branches or stumps, watching for the movement of fish, amphibians, large insects, a baby crocodile, or even crustaceans, if the water is shallow. They are territorial: individuals and pairs stake out a section of river or lake bank. Breeding takes place in the drier season, when low water levels make food more accessible.
Courtship involves a great deal of hooting. Monogamous pairs nest in tree hollows near the water. The female usually lays two eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about a month while the male brings her food. The chicks are altricial – their eyes don’t even open for a week – and only one is likely to survive. Fledging takes up to three months, and the youth remains near the parents for nearly a year. If a pair successfully raises a chick, they are unlikely to breed the next season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6cgcCcCWbI
Pel’s fishing owl is a species of Least Concern. Because of their wide distribution, conditions that threaten one local population don’t affect the success of the species as a whole. Birds of the World says more study is needed, and I won’t argue against it.
There are three fishing owl species in the genus Scotopelia and others in the genus Ketupa, or maybe it’s all one genus, one way or another. As we say in these parts, “The taxonomy is disputed,” or we might even say “in disarray.”
Good morning. It’s a cold morning, narrowly averting frost.
One of Congress’s jobs is to oversee the regulatory agencies of the executive branch and correct them when they overstep their powers. Too often, Congress doesn’t do that, accounting for quite a few cases that make it to the courts instead. For this person to mock Congress for actually doing its job is ironical (among other things).
And product safety regulators are definitely out over their skis. I’m thinking of the ruminations at one agency to ban gas stoves (echoed in some of our larger “blue cities”). What are we, children, to be protected by an all-wise nanny state? (No, I can’t keep a straight face on that! 🤣 )
Good morning. Back from Seattle. Great trip (though it was colder than the forecast (and my packing) led me to believe. I know, I know: ironic. Was very busy. We attended 3 different birthday parties for 4 year olds in one day. I was tempted to ask the final host if they had a rope and a beam...
Sorry to leave but good to be back.
Good morning. It's Thorsday!