Biyamati Bush Camp is in the southern most part of the Kruger National Park. The special sighting filmed by animal and bird enthusiast Henri Olckers.
The hammerkop is a distinctive African waterbird named for its unusual hammer-shaped head and bill. Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, it inhabits wetlands, rivers, dams, marshes, and estuaries where it hunts for fish, frogs, insects, and small reptiles in shallow water.
Birds gather in numbers
These birds stood peacefully alongside one another. What made the moment remarkable was just how many of them there were. Hammerkops are usually seen alone or in pairs.
Bird sightings at your fingertips
The Kruger National Park abounds with bird life. Stay up to date with the latest bird sightings by joining our WhatsApp group. Click here to view the latest Kruger National Park sightings.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
The setting was peaceful and the birds demonstrated extreme patience. They didn’t appear to be in a hurry to make a catch. For them, patience was their key hunting strategy.
Hammerkops are known for their patient hunting technique. They will slowly wade through shallow water, using their sharp bills to catch prey. Unlike herons, which often stand motionless while waiting for prey, hammerkops actively stir the water with their feet to flush out food.
When a fish was detected, the birds would strike out quickly with their strong, pointed bills, grabbing the prey before it could escape.
Hammerkop birds generally catch small fish, as their bill is adapted for picking up prey rather than spearing large fish. After catching a fish, the birds may shake it to gain a better grip before swallowing it whole, usually head-first to prevent fins or scales from catching in its throat.
A popular ‘fishing spot’
This was clearly a popular ‘fishing spot’ with the local hammerkop community. They waited where the water streamed over from a higher-level body of water and formed something similar to a waterfall.
This was possibly where the fish could be most easily seen.
They didn’t seem to mind the water or splashing around. This was what they were built for.
Bird watching, a game viewing adventure in its own right
Many game viewers will visit the Kruger National Park and other reserves to go bird watching. Most reserves sell ‘bird lists’ at their curio stores and these can also be found online. In this way, visitors to the reserves can tick off bird species as they come across them.
For the bird enthusiast, this becomes an expedition of sorts and many will pull their vehicle aside to identify bird species at the side of the road when out on a game drive.
Many visitors overlook hammerkops because they are relatively small, brownish in colour, and often quietly hunt along the water’s edge. Their distinctive hammer-shaped head is usually the easiest way to identify them. Once you know what to look for, you may start noticing them quite frequently.
Henri was fortunate to see this happy gathering of the species, and was appreciative enough to know their value and the significance of the memorable moment.