Birdlife International classified the Shoebill as Vulnerable especially because of habitat destruction, disturbance and hunting. And it is also listed as an endangered species on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The Shoebill derives its name from its big shoe-shaped bill specialized to grab and hold large prey such as slippery lungfish which is its preferred food. This big wading bird also eats turtles, tilapia, eels, snakes, Nile monitor lizards and young crocodiles.
Shoebills are the only species in the family called Balaeniceps rex, a latin word loosely translated as Whale Head. Although they were once classified as storks, and share traits with storks and herons, like the long necks and legs characteristic of wading birds, a 2008 DNA study reinforces their membership among the pelicans.
Like herons and pelicans, shoebills fly with their head held back against the body and like pelicans, have a large bill circumference (five inches wide) with sharp edges and a sharp hook on the end. Shoebills are known to be slow flying birds with an estimated 150 flaps per minutes with only a few flights beyond a distance of 20m recorded.
Physical appearance
Approximately 5 feet tall with an 8-foot wingspan, shoebills have yellow eyes, grey feathers, white bellies, and a small feathered crest on the back of their heads. The plumage of an adult shoebill is mainly blue -grey with darker slaty – grey flight feathers while their young have similar plumage color but with a touch of brown. They also have long, thin legs with large feet with the middle toe reaching 6.6 – 7.3 inches. Their feet are ideal for walking on the vegetation in the freshwater marshes and swamps they inhabit in East Africa, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Zambia.
Shoebill Behavior
Shoebills are known for their slow movements and can stay still for hours, so when an unfortunate lungfish comes up for air, it might not notice this pre-historic bird looming until it’s too late. A typical statue like behavior. The birds’ hunting technique called “collapsing,” involves lunging forward on their unsuspecting prey.
Shoebill Sounds
Though they’re mainly silent, shoebills sometimes engage in bill-clattering, a loud hollow sound made as a greeting and during nesting. They also keep cool with a technique called gular fluttering which is done by vibrating the throat muscles to dissipate heat. Chicks sometimes make hiccup-like sounds when they’re hungry.
Reproduction
Shoebills reach maturity at three to four years old, and breeding pairs are monogamous. These birds are very solitary in nature in that even mating pairs will feed at opposite sides of their territory. Breeding pairs build large, sturdy nests on floating platforms made of reeds and grasses in wetlands. Females lay an average of two eggs at the end of the rainy season.
As co-parents, both birds tend to the eggs and their young. This includes incubating and turning eggs, and cooling them with water they bring to the nest in their large bills. Hatching occurs in about 30 days. Chicks have bluish-grey feathers covering their bodies and a lighter coloured bill. Only one chick typically survives to fly which happens when they are about 3months old.
Shoebill Habitat
These birds are usually attracted to poorly oxygenated waters such as swamps and marshes where fish frequently surface to breathe.
Shoebill Conservation
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that there are only between 3,300 and 8000 adult shoebills left in the world, and the population is going down.
Key Shoebill Threats
These birds Habitat loss through land clearing for pasture, Habitat disturbance by cattle trampling on nests, agricultural burning and pollution from the oil industry also affect their habitats. Shoebills are hunted as food in some places, and in others, they’re hunted because they’re considered a bad omen.
Conservation Efforts in Uganda and across Africa
- International Single Species Action Plan. (ISSAP). This is a plan aimed at increasing shoebill populations while protecting their habitats
- Community engagement. The Shoebill once hunted by local residents for eating their most prized lung fish is now largely protected by the same community through conservation focused programs such as tour services and nest protection efforts that generate income. This creates a balance between economic development and environmental conservation.
- Research and Monitoring. Research has helped the world know various shoebill populations, breeding habits and what is typically required in a shoebill habitat.
Places in Uganda where you can see the Shoebill up-close
Mabamba bay
On the shores of Lake Victoria about 50km west of Kampala and 12km west of Entebbe city lies Mabamba Bay, a fresh water swamp protected by local communities. Mabamba swamp is one of best locations for watching the Shoebill in Uganda. Its landscape consists of dense papyrus and is an idyllic habitat for more than 300 bird species.
Mabamba swamp can be accessed by Boat from Entebbe at Nakiwogo Landing site with a motorized canoe or by car from Entebbe via Kawuku – Nakawuka road.
Murchison Falls National Park
Shoebills are best seen in the Albert Delta during the months of January to March and June to September when it’s relatively dry. In Murchison Falls, the Shoebill watching tours will mainly concentrate near the Nile River and its associated wetlands since Shoebills are typically found in wetlands, shallow mashes and swamps. A boat Safari along the Nile Delta is ideal. The best time to see these large birds is early morning or late afternoon when they are most active. Keep an eye out for their distinctive shape as they are known to stand still for several hours. Which also means that more patience will be required where more action is anticipated.
Other places where Shoebills can be seen in Uganda
1. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (Lugogo Swamp)
2. Semuliki National Park
3. Lake Mburo National Park
4. Toro-Semuliki Game Reserve
5. Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
6. Makanaga Swamp
