You are what you eat!

Having received a beautiful book called "Beat about the bush Birds" (see the link on the right hand side of the page) for my birthday I am learning all sorts about birds. One interesting thing I learnt is Faecal Sacs. Low and behold as you read something so you observe it......

Spotting a magpie shrike and her attendants at the nest I directed my camera that way in the hope of seeing the chicks being fed. One adult flew off as another arrived and after dropping a grasshopper into one of the gaping mouths I photographed the adult pick up a faecal sac from the nest and EAT IT!!

Very happy with that set of photos I headed home and on my way spotted a Wahlberg's eagle being mobbed by a flock of Retz's helmet-shrikes. Again I aimed my big lens at the action and let rip in the hope of getting some "contact shots". I got more than I expected.....

Wahlberg's eagle prepares to defecate before flying away from its mobbing helmet shrikes.

Notice the white faeces dropping away from the eagle and the helmet shrike's "eyes on the prize"

The helmet shrike to my surprise shoots down and catches the faeces!

Lets hope the belief that "you are what you eat" is not true



The Hwange Birder