The lagoons are quickly drying up causing the birds to become anxious and desperate, their feeding patterns changing they are now engaging in feeding frenzies as the fish get more and more concentrated in the tiny patches of water. It's nature's unique way of removing all forms of water dependent life before it dries up completely. This way nothing goes to waste, eggs have already been burrowed deep into the mud for the next rainy season, their life cycle almost complete the amphibians now serve as a feast for the birds; their last feast before the sun unleashes its unforgiving rays, scortching the earth and making life impossible for those left behind. These feeding frenzies will get the birds through the hard times, provide much needed fuel for migration and the circle continues..
Marabou stork, yellow billed stork and even the saddlebills came to work together to take advantage of this last good meal. After that its back to lion droppings and rotting carcasses for the Marabous and for the rest; whatever they can find, be it small mammals, rodents and frogs which are less tantalizing but as carivores they can adapt.
What was disheartening though was watching the Great African Fish Eagle, a mascot for Zimbabwe and Zambia reduce itself to a scavenging thief; an opportunistic feeder. There they were cawing and fighting each other for the best vantage point where they could watch the other birds at work at swoop in at the right moment for a free (stolen) meal. Abandoning the use of their magnificent art of fishing for their meals. I know they are just trying to make the best of a presented opportunity but I still expected more from them.
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