There is an eagle in me …

Posted by Rusty Blackbird in Quotations | 0 comments

There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud

A Carl Sandburg quotation

Identify this bird

I am a very large bird of prey, with a length of 76-90 cm (30-36 in), an average weight of 5.2 kg (11.6 lbs) and a wingspan of 190-260 cm (6.25-8.5 ft).

I am (Polemaetus bellicosus) Africa’s largest bird of this type and am the only member of the genus Polemaetus. My preferred habitat is the semi-desert and open savannah. I cautiously avoid dense forests, however I need trees to nest in.

hippopotamus amphibius

My species suffers from persecution through shooting and poisoning, but also from indirect threats, such as collision with power-lines. The preservation of my species depends on education of farmers, and the direct protection of our nesting sites.