4516. WILDLIFE AFRICA: Shoebill video

The shoebill is distributed in freshwater swamps of central tropical Africa.

 The shoebill is non-migratory with limited seasonal movements due to habitat changes, food availability and disturbance by humans.^[19]

 

 The distribution of this species seems to largely coincide with that of papyrus and lungfish. 

 

  More rarely, the species has been seen foraging in rice fields and flooded plantations.^[19]

 

 Shoebills, being solitary, forage at 20 m (66 ft) or more from one another even where relatively densely populated. This species stalks its prey patiently, in a slow and lurking fashion. While hunting, the shoebill strides very slowly and is frequently motionless. Unlike some other large waders, this species hunts entirely using vision and is not known to engage in tactile hunting. When prey is spotted, it launches a quick violent strike.

 

 Fledging is reached at around 105 days and the young birds can fly well by 112 days. However, they are still fed for possibly a month or more after this. It will take the young shoebills three years before they become fully sexually mature.^[19]

 

 Shoebills are largely piscivorous but are assured predators of a considerable range of wetland vertebrates. Prefers lungfish and catfish.

This species is considered to be one of the five most desirable birds in Africa by birdwatchers.^[30] They are docile with humans and show no threatening behavior

 

Beginning in 2014 and with various interspersed surges of attention since then, the shoebill has become the subject of internet memes, in part due to its intimidating appearance and its tendency to stand still for long periods of time. One such example is a video of a shoebill standing in the rain whilst staring into the camera. These memes have since also appeared on the social media platform TikTok, bringing a comparatively unknown species of bird into popular culture.^[33] The shoebill also inspired the design of the Loftwing birds in the 2011 game The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.^[34][35]

 

The population is estimated at between 5,000 and 8,000 individuals, the majority of which live in swamps in South Sudan, Uganda, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia.

 

BirdLife International has classified it as Vulnerable with the main threats being habitat destruction, disturbance and hunting. 

The bird is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).^[38] 

Habitat destruction and degradation, hunting, disturbance and illegal capture are all contributing factors to the decline of this species. Agriculture cultivation and pasture for cattle have also caused significant habitat loss. Indigenous communities that surround Shoebill habitats capture their eggs and chicks for human consumption and for trade. 

Frequent fires in southern Sudan and deliberate fires for grazing access contribute to habitat loss. Some swamps in Sudan are being drained for construction of a canal to control nearby waterways, causing more habitat loss.^[32]

 

 

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Shoebills typically lay 1 to 3 dull, chalky-white eggs, but often only one chick survives due to sibling rivalry. Both parents share in the 30-day incubation duties. 

Here's a more detailed look at shoebill eggs and their breeding habits:

• Egg Laying: Shoebills lay their eggs at the end of the rainy season. 
• Nest: The nest is made of aquatic vegetation and can be 1 to 1.7 meters wide. 
• Incubation: Both parents share the 30-day incubation duties, including incubating and turning the eggs, and cooling them with water. 
• Egg Size: Shoebill eggs measure around 80 to 90 mm high by 56 to 61 mm wide and weigh about 164 g. 
• Egg Color: Eggs are initially chalky bluish-white but quickly become stained brown. 
• Survival: While a clutch of up to three eggs is laid, typically only one nestling survives due to inter-sibling rivalry where the larger chick will out-compete and/or kill its siblings. 
• Parental Care: Both parents feed, guard, and shade the chicks. 
• Fledging: The young shoebills fledge at 95 days, but cannot fly until about 105 to 112 days. Parents continue to feed the young for about one month after fledging. 

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