The eagle lurked and stole the fish from the cranes.

South Africa Fish Eagles swoop down to the riverbank as a pair of saddle-billed cranes fish, then seize the opportunity to snatch their prey and fly away.

Tourist Lourens Venter witnessed a fight between an African fish eagle and a pair of saddle-billed cranes in Kruger National Park, Latest Sightings reported on August 25. "I left the camp and headed to Shingwedzi Bridge in search of something interesting. When I arrived, I scanned the banks and riverbed for signs of life. A peaceful sight greeted me: Two beautiful saddle-billed cranes moving gracefully along the river, along with many other water birds," he said.

The saddle-billed stork ( Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis ) is a large bird that can reach a height of 150 cm. In addition to its main prey of fish, frogs, and crabs, it also eats birds and small reptiles.

Saddle-billed cranes are intelligent birds and have a unique way of catching fish. They stand still in the water like statues and watch fish swim by. When they find a fish, they strike with lightning speed with their long beaks. Their beaks are like sharp spears, quickly grabbing their prey and pulling it out of the water.

“In the midst of this peaceful scene, a crane caught a small fish as its prey. With amazing precision, the crane cleaned it and placed it on the shore,” said Lourens. He was immediately captivated and began to capture the unique scene.

The peace was suddenly shattered by a fish eagle swooping down from above, Lourens said. Wings outstretched, the fish eagle took a few steps forward, trying to intimidate the cranes. The hunter took a few more steps, then, with a swift movement, grabbed the fish with its talons. One crane chased after it, but was unsuccessful. The fish eagle paused for a second, then took off, soaring into the sky with its precious breakfast.

The African fish eagle ( Haliaeetus vocifer ) is a bird of the family Accipitridae. It lives in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are large bodies of water rich in fish. It has a similar appearance to the bald eagle. Adults are 63–75 cm long with a wingspan of about 2 m. The feet have rough soles and strong talons that allow the eagle to grasp its prey, which is a smooth-skinned fish. Although primarily a fish eater, this eagle is opportunistic and can take a variety of other prey.

Thu Thao (According to Latest Sightings )

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