Southern Screamers - rare South American waterfowl

The chicks

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Births at Joburg Zoo a roaring success January 15, 2004 By Bontle Moeng A CLUTCH of four rare birds, Southern Screamers, have made their appearance at the Johannesburg Zoo - the first time such birds have ever hatched in South Africa. The four ginger-coloured hatchlings joined several new arrivals at the zoo at the end of the December holidays. A clutch of eggs was laid in November, with the chicks breaking out of the shells some 28 days later. Other babies to be born at the Johannesburg in the past month include a baby tiger, camel and flamingos. Southern Screamers are rare birds that originate from the soaked, swampy, marshlands of South America and owe their characteristic name to their distinctive voice, which can be heard up to three kilometres away. The Johannesburg Zoo acquired a breeding pair in September 2002, and zookeepers were delighted when they began to lay eggs. "There are very few in the country and they are quite sought after," says the curator for the birds, Mike Harman. Southern Screamers are a primitive and unique sub-set of the waterfowl family and have a distinctive feature that sets them apart from their web-footed cousins such as ducks and geese - they have two vicious-looking spurs on each wing, which enable them to defend themselves. They have an average lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. Visitors to the zoo will have the opportunity to see the two adults and four chicks in the walk-through aviary. But, says the zookeepers, birdwatchers should be patient if they find the little birds difficult to spot. The adults tend to keep the chicks hidden in the thick vegetation. "They are very protective of their young," says Harman. "They are capable of attacking humans." According to Harman, newborn Southern Screamers weigh approximately 80 grams, and the father plays a central role in the chicks' upbringing. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page Send an online postcard E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za