AFRICAN FISH –EAGLE

The African fish eagle is a proficient hunter, with live fish accounting for the bulk of its diet. It typically hunts from a huge perch on water side tree, where it can watch for moving close to the water’s surface once prey is sighted low over the water and at the critical moment throws both feet forward to seize hold of its target with powerful talons.

The African fish eagles rarely spend more than ten minutes per day actively hunting. Aside from fish, this efficient raptor will also take the young of water such as lesser flamingoes in Lake Baringo.

Adult African fish eagles are normally seen in pairs but on large productive lakes nests and roosts may be only a few hundred meters apart and many birds can be found together in one area. The stick nests are usually built in a tree close by water and are used year after growing in size over time with the addition of needs papyrus reads bulrushes and sometimes weaver nest.

Calling on duet, whilst perched or soaring, is an integral part of breading display and is combined with dramatic aerial dives and falls with pairs integrals in mid air. The female normally lays one to three eggs in the nest which are incubated for around 44 days before hatching.

Although in captivity African fish eagles can live for more than 40 yrs in the wild those that are fortunate to survive the first year have an estimated life expectancy of 12 to 24 years.

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ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera is one of about 250 species of aloes. The aloes are numbers of the lily family (liliaceous) and are relatives of such common as tulips.

Aloe Vera is a leafy succulent that a rosette fashion on hot well drained soils. The leaves are spotted when young but take on a uniform light green color with age. They can reach 2 feet in length and are edged soft spines. Older plants produce an 18 inch long stalk from the centre of the rosette that is topped with nodding cylindrical yellow flower about one inch long.

It is bitter shiny and can be collected as an exudate from cut leaves or squeezed from the pulp of the leaves. Leaves from all aloes have long been credited with healing properties but the especially inculent aloe Vera is valued most. 

In the past leaves were sliced and laid on the skin to relieve itching and to heal burns, minor burns, wrinkles, insect bites, skin irritation, cuts and scratches. Consumer may be familiar with aloe Vera because extract of its sap are found in my hand lotion and other skin care products.

Aloe Vera makes a sturdy long lived house plant as it is given plenty of sunlight and is not over watered. Many home gardeners grow it on a window sill so the sap is ready available.

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