Of all the owl species found in Southern Africa the enigmatic and highly localised Pel’s Fishing Owl is unquestionably the most desirable and challenging of all to locate. It is patchily distributed in Nigeria, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and in central Africa from the coast to eastern Zaire and discontinuously to South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania and southwards to Zimbabwe, Botswana and eastern South Africa. The pel’s fishing owl is named after Hendrik Severinus Pel, a former Dutch governor of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) between 1840 and 1850. The young remain in their parent's territory for 6 to 9 months after fledging and resemble the adult by around 10 months of age. [13] In one case, a Pel's fishing owl was observed to predate a baby Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Once you have seen all of our 110 mammal species that we have in the Luangwa valley you can move on to the birds. Blyde/Olifants Pel's Fishing Owl project. Once a fish is caught, the owl will return to its perch to consume the fish. For many birders, the Pel’s Fishing Owl roosts in a lofty position on just such a list. [14] While perched over the water, these owls detect the movement of fish from ripples in the water and swoop down to seize their prey with their powerful talons and then swoop back to their perch for consumption. 743 likes. Photos: Dindingwe, Hector16, aftab., cirdantravels (Fons Buts), wildlandsafaris, StJohn Smith1, Bob Gunderson, nik.borrow, Brendon White Flickr.com. The species prefers slow moving rivers with large overhanging trees to roost and forage from. [4], The main prey of Pel's fishing owl is fish. Other articles where Pel’s fishing owl is discussed: fish owl: Pel’s fishing owl (S. peli) ranges over most of sub-Saharan Africa. More uncommonly, this species will forage by wading into shallow water along sandbanks. These consists of behaving as if injured, to draw the attention of potential predators, and penetrating screeches. Nature collapse imminent without investment, 'Wildlife Conservation 20' warns G20, From student representative to Kazakhstan conservation CEO, Call for proposals: cultural landscapes in Lebanon, East African Fishing-Owl, Fishing Owl, Fishing-Owl, African Fish-Owl, African Fishing-Owl, Pel's Fishing-Owl, Chouette pêcheuse, Chouette-pêcheuse de Pel, Chouette pêcheuse de Pel, Chouette-pêcheuse de Pel, Pel-Fischeule, Bindenfischeule, Civetta pescatrice di Pel, Gufo pescatore di Pel, Sowa rybiarka, rybiarka duza, rybiarka duża, Corujão-pesqueiro, Corujão-pesqueiro de Pel, Corujão-pesqueiro-de-pel, Полосатая рыбная сова, Sova Pelova, hlavaňa rybárka, Búho Pescador Común, Cárabo Pescador Común. [13] Their favorite habitat is riverine forests with large trees, although large numbers are also found on islands with large, old trees within larger rivers, swamps or lakes, so long as the islands are not too far from the bank. A male and female pair possess a territory together, nesting in the old holes of great trees, and taking to the exposed perches alongside the water only at night when they hunt . One of the most coveted of theses is the Pel's fishing owl and [8][9] Under current classification, it is the heaviest extant owl outside of the genus Bubo, although some authors may also include the fishing owls in Bubo. This owl will also walk into shallow water to hunt. [4], The song of the male Pel's fishing owl is a deep, sonorous, horn-like boom, first a single and then a higher pitched huhuhu. In Botswana, 23 territories were found along 60 km of river and, in Kruger National Park, up to 8 pairs can be found in an 18 km stretch of the Levubu River. However, they are sometimes seen to be active during the day, especially when prey is scarce. The female’s call is higher pitched and usually a single hoot followed by a double hoot-oot. When prey selection is good, populations can be quite dense. Compared with the fish owls in the genus Bubo, the three fishing owls are more completely piscivorous and rarely vary their prey selection from fish. Pel's fishing owl may move outside of their own range in pursuit of prey. The species is largely residential and has no seasonal movement, although young, non-breeding birds may wander somewhat before claiming their own territories. Pel's fishing owl (Scotopelia peli) is a large species of owl in the family Strigidae. Like diurnal raptors that specialize in fish, they have spiky scales on the bottoms of their feet that help them grip slippery fish. The female does all incubation for around 32 days, while the male feeds her. Juvenile Pel’s Fishing Owl seen a few weeks ago. The female lays the eggs when water's at its peak or starting to fall, so that brood feeding coincides with low water and concentrated prey. It was named after Hendrik Severinus Pel, the Dutch governor of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) between 1840 and 1850. The second-largest owl in Africa after the giant eagle owl, measuring over 60cm in height, the Pel’s fishing owl makes a striking ginger appearance in the canopies of trees. At the first sight of danger to their offspring, both parents may engage in distraction displays. Damming rivers, silting, and removal of water for irrigation may be local issues faced by the species. [1], Birds to watch in Namibia: red, rare and endemic species, Pel’s fishing-owl videos, photos and facts – Scotopelia peli, Bubo lacteus (Verreaux's eagle-owl, Giant eagle owl), Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pel%27s_fishing_owl&oldid=984697133, Taxonbars with automatically added original combinations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 21 October 2020, at 15:26. The Pel's fishing owl is found in forests along rivers and lakes. Males have a deep, reverberating call (hoom-hut) which can be heard up to three kilometres away! Found patchily in sub-Saharan Africa, this large, ginger-colored owl can never be guaranteed on a trip to the continent. The owl sits, watching the water and will swoop on to any fish that approaches the surface. Breeding in Africa: … It has a heavily feathered, round head without ear tufts. Pel's fishing owl (Scotopelia peli) is a large species of owl in the family Strigidae. [3], Pel's fishing owl is one of the largest owl species in the world. It nests in hollows and the forks of large trees. [16] Thus, the species is classified as least concern by the IUCN. It is found throughout a large part of sub-Saharan Africa, but it is generally rather local, uncommon and absent from drier regions. Though as many as two eggs are laid, often only one chick is raised. The species is found in Africa and lives near rivers and lakes. Among the world's owls, it ranks as the fifth heaviest on average, the seventh longest in length and measured wing chord and fourth longest in mean wingspan, although not all large species have had measured wingspans. Pel's Fishing Owls are classed as endangered in South Africa. The two related fishing owls are smaller and lack the dark barring and scaling (though they do have dark streaks below). It feeds nocturnally on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. To raise their levels of excitement, two fluffy white heads were seen peeping over the rim of the nest.The nest appeared invulnerable ... although most guests will mistake the call as some primate distress scream. There is considerable variation in coloration and barring in adult birds, with some birds having extensive pale feathers with others having several blackish markings.
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