The luck came rolling in as the dogs had a real party today.
Jiggy was the first to kill and had the young impala all to himself. But that lasted only briefly when an overfed hyaena arrived. Jiggy wasted no time in chasing the hyaena briefly and then leaving. He knew he really didn’t have a chance one on one, especially when there was a carcass at stake.
The rest of the pack were about half a kilometre away feeding on another kill. I suspect Puzzles killed as she was very well fed.
The pups cleaned up there in no time at all and all still hungry were quick to greet dad and then head off searching for his kill. The pups were now over excited twittering frantically as they followed Jiggy’s scent trail.
The hyaena moved off hearing their approach, knowing he was outnumbered.
While the pups disposed of this carcass too, the hyaena came lurking back. But Jiggy was there to intercept it and flew out the bush at the hyaena. It’s screaming yeowls brought Puzzles in to back up her man. Between them the hyaena got a goooood hiding, eventually taking refuge with its backside deep in thicket.
When the dogs left the area, the hyaena left out the back door.
It wasn’t far from here, the dogs found the rotting carcass of an eland calf, probably a couple of days old and already having been fed on. This was probably what had the hyaena so full.
The pack spent the next hour chewing on this carcass with long teeth, but they kept chewing until they really didn’t have space for anything else.
Puzzles led them off east to rest up at a pan.
Of course that was them done for the day, and with good shade and water they’ll be spending the night there too.
A herd of buffalo visited the pan in the late afternoon, but not even the pups were interested in them.
I met Mark on the airstrip at sunset where these Ground Hornbills were feeding. I just love these birds. They’re hot on the agenda for one of my next films.
The hornbills were feeding among a herd of impala where the lambs were testing their courage trying to chase off the birds without them themselves being scared. All the while the hornbills booming their thunderous call across the bushveld. At dusk they headed for safety to roost in a nearby tree, leaving the impala grounded and at risk to all those nocturnal predators.
Ground hornbills are cool birds!
I remember it was around 1995, Kemp & Crowe’s work finally decided they were different enough from their typical hornbills cousins to belong to a family “Bucorvidae” of their own.
I have only seen Abyssinian variety and their morning calls almost resemble a leopard’s grunt.
All hornbills have the most interesting habits. Especially the behavior of the males of some species, using mud to block the entrance of a nesting cavity with the female inside, until the young are ready to fledge.
As that ground hornbill was feeding, I was thinking how crow-like it’s walk seemed. Then I read Ayesha’s comment, and see it is in the family Bucorvidae!
I think Warner Bros. produced a Bugs Bunny cartoon that included a caveman, a dinosaur, one of the birds in your video and a symphany orchestra - can’t remember the name of it though…..will google it.
I am wondering if anyone remembers the video that was posted about a giraffe calf with a deformity in the rear legs. Surprised it has survived as long as it had on the video. Ive gone back looking for it and just cant seem to find it. Thanks for any help.
Hi Paige. it was called “Cute but doomed” on either 21st or 22nd August 2008
This is the first time I have heard their call. I did see some ground hornbills in Mashatu but they weren’t calling. Are there other birds that collectively raise the young? That is new to me!!
Thanks so much Kim, by the way did you ever see the calf again? Alive or dead? I havent posted in a very long time but still enjoy the video as much as ever. And still saving the pennies for a trip to Africa someday. Keep up the great work
Paige
Ground Hornbills - birds with character and eyelashes to put Marilyn Monroe to shame….
haven’t seen it again, but then that doesn’t mean it’s not around.
Thank you for an additional good write-up. Exactly where else could anybody get that kind of information and facts in these a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m around the appear for such data.