Big bird bonuses

It was one cool October morning, we set off from Sasakwa to look for a pride of lions in the Kombre drainage. The early light made everything glow as we moved slowly along, searching for any sign of the big cats. Suddenly, we spotted a large bird, a martial eagle perched low on a branch, watching us closely.

We stopped the vehicle to see what the eagle was up to. For a few minutes, she stared right at us, her eyes sharp and focused. Then, without warning, she looked away, turning her attention to something on the ground below. We followed her gaze and saw a massive lizard, a Nile monitor, nearly as long as a person’s arm.

Before we knew it, the eagle launched herself at the lizard, attacking with her strong legs and sharp talons. The lizard fought back, lashing out with its thick tail, but the eagle was too determined. She bit and kicked, refusing to give up. The battle went on and on for a long time, and finally, the lizard went still.

We thought the eagle would start eating right there, but she had a different plan. She grabbed the heavy lizard and flew to a nearby tree, showing off her strength. Once safely perched, she began her meal.

We were all amazed at the sight - the sheer power of that bird lifting such a big lizard was incredible! It was a reminder of just how strong and skilled raptors can be.