Watch the sighting here:
Visitor Juan Geyser recorded this unfortunate series of events and submitted his story to Latest Sightings. The action took place at Sunset Dam, near to Lower Sabie Camp in the Kruger National Park.
Enjoying the sights
Juan said that he settled in on the banks of Sunset Dam, hoping to enjoy the sights and sounds around this popular waterhole.
He said, “I happened to notice that there was a hungry-looking hawk hanging around the weaver’s nests. He seemed to be in a hurry to tear the nest apart and gain a quick meal.”
Bird species
The bird in question was a juvenile African harrier-hawk, formerly known as a gymnogene. With long, double-jointed legs, these large birds of prey are specialist nest raiders.
As seen above, they are adept at hanging below nests while reaching into the various entrances in search of prey.
The nest that the raptor is raiding likely belongs to Red-billed buffalo weavers (Bubalornis niger) or village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus)). Both species have nested in the dead trees in the dam for generations.
As shown in the image above, a buffalo weaver watches intently. Additionally, a pair of weavers aggressively mob the gymnogene in the video. They are most likely trying to protect their young inside the nest.
Mid-air antics
Suddenly, the raptor dropped from the nest, expertly flipping itself around in midflight.
Next, as it swoops over the water, Juan remarks that the harrier-hawk has “dropped a baby [weaver] into the water.”
Afterwards, the large bird of prey attempts to hover, hoping to retrieve the chick, but it is too heavy and soon flies away.
Swim for survival
Subsequently, Juan relocated the chick in the water. Weavers are by no means an aquatic species. As such, the youngster struggles to swim, frantically flapping its wings in an effort to get clear of the water.
However, as the desperate chick flapped along the surface of the water, it attracted equally unwelcome attention.
Only this time, the threat was in the water itself…
Crocodile!
As anyone who’s been to Sunset Dam will attest, its waters are home to a fairly large population of Nile crocodiles. As creatures that evolved in the water of hundreds of millions of years, their senses can detect even subtle changes in their liquid environment.
Including the panic-stricken vibrations of a baby birds’ wings…
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For that reason, it is no surprise when Juan exclaims that he can see a baby crocodile that has risen to the surface. Moments later, the croc submerged and Juan is convinced it is about to go after the bird.
Watching the bird flailing on the surface, a sense of impending doom descends.
Moments later, it happens. In the blink of an eye, the submerged crocodile snaps its jaws, and the chick is gone, swallowed whole.
Reflecting on the sighting, Juan was pragmatic: “I felt sorry for the bird, but this was what we had come to see – wildlife in action.”
Natural action attractions
Since water is vital to life, a diverse range of species thrives nearby. As a result, the likelihood of witnessing unusual animal behaviour and interactions is high wherever water is present.
We highly recommend spending some time at water sources when on safari. Keep your camera and binoculars handy at all times, and be sure to send your best videos to Latest Sightings.