Local fishermen in canoes look after the Shoebills to protect them from poachers.Ĭonservation plans are put in place to protect the real-life Big Bird. Their numbers are dropping and there are only 3000–5000 mature shoebills left on planet earth. They flee at the slightest disturbance of their habitat, leaving their nests, eggs, and chicks behind.īirdLife International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classify Shoebills as Vulnerable to Extinction. The expanding kind, besides the poachers.ĭespite their fierce appearance, Shoebills are shy birds. Their distinct look makes them an interesting target for poachers, who snatch Shoebill eggs and chicks like hawks and sell them to wealthy bird enthusiasts.ĭroughts, fires, and humans. No matter where you stand, dorky muppet bird, or scary modern-day dinosaur, Shoebills are fascinating birds we should protect. When all has evaporated, it leaves a chalky substance behind which helps the Shoebill to protect its legs from the scorching African sun. The pee evaporates and cools the bird down, helping it to regulate its body temperature. Their “pee” is a mixture of urine and feces which coat their legs. Urohidrosis is not unusual in the bird world. Staring contest in 3,2,1… Photo by Kumiko on Flickr They defecate on their legs to cool themselves down. Just imagine this Shoebill, staring you down for hours straight. You’d either end up laughing or give up when you’re starting to feel unsettled. Its eagle-like eyes and motionless posture, combined with a pelican beak and Big Bird-like hairdo, make this one tough staring contest. It will stare at the water for hours, rarely blinking, waiting for the right meal to swim by. If there’s one skill a Shoebill is exceptional at, it’s staring. It would defeat you in a staring contest. And the strongest one gets fed and survives.
The weaker chick either gets killed by its sibling or gets ignored by its mother. Mother Shoebill is wise and knows which chick is more likely to survive in the wild. The stronger baby Shoebill can attack its weaker sibling to be the only one who gets fed. There might be a sinister and slightly sad reason for that. On average, the Shoebill mother lays 2 eggs. Shoebill siblings don’t seem to get along very well. It will easily scoop up and gulp down lungfish, eels, snakes, and even baby crocodiles. It has a wide beak that resembles a typical Dutch klomp, with a sharp hook that it uses to hunt big fish and reptiles.Īs if the Shoebill’s death stare wasn’t scary enough, it stands still like a statue for hours, quietly waiting to snatch its next meal. Subscribe to our channel for more conservation contentSushi lives at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe and was rescued by their team after loc. They spend their time wading in the swamps of the Great Lakes region of Africa. Luckily, these impressive whale-heads live solitary lives, far away from us. Photo by Pelican on Flickr Draining the swamp, one baby crocodile at a time.