The Black Eagle - A Study by Valerie Gargett

This long awaited and important volume comprises the most detailed comprehensive and prolonged single study of an eagle species ever undertaken. Thousands of hours of observation in the field during a 21 year period and over 12 000 written records by a team of voluntary birdwatchers, have gone into the investigation of the behaviour and breeding of some 60 pairs of Black Eagles in their natural environment, the Matobo Hills of Zimbabwe. The Black Eagle, or Verreaux’s Eagle as it is called outside central and southern Africa was described by the late Leslie Brown,pioneer of raptor studies in Africa as the finest of the genus Aquila. Noted for its unsurpassed aerial mastery, this magnificent eagle ranges across rugged and mountainous terrain over much of Africa, from the Cape Peninsula to the Arabian Peninsula. In the Matobo Hills of Zimbabwe, and particularly in the Matobo National Park, the Black Eagle has for the present a secure refuge. It is not merely plentiful in the area, but occurs in the greatest concentration of any single large eagle species in the world. This unique situation inspired the subject of this monograph, which is based on a research project started in 1964 and continued from 1965 under the leadership of Valerie Gargett. It combines a substantial contribution to our knowledge of eagle life and behaviour with the story of an adventure, in which teamwork and the personal dedication of the author are interwoven. Val’s obvious admiration for and devotion to the eagles shine through the lively style of her narrative throughout this fascinating book. Val Gargett’s dogged approach to research relies on faithful observation and here she tackles the full range of intriguing questions on Black Eagle behaviour directly from her personal experience, supplemented by a wealth of facts and figures and a generous dose of detective work. For example, are Black Eagle partners monogamous and do they pair for life? How much space does a pair need to maintain a successful territory? Is it shared with others of the same species or of different species? When does an eagle lay eggs?, and why does only one chick survive when the eggs are laid? What happens to the surviving eagles after fledging? While the focus is on the Black Eagles of the Matobo Hills, comparisons are also included with studies on the species elsewhere, as well as on other species of Aquila eagles, which help to put the Black Eagle into a family perspective in Africa. Exquisite paintings by renowned bird artist Graeme Arnot and a series of behavioural sketches by eagle student Robert Davies, add an extra dimension to an appreciation of the Black Eagle. Their inclusion, together with a selection of colour photographs, both from the author’s unique and extensive collection and by photographers of note, make this a volume to be treasured by collectors of Africana as well as by all bird of prey enthusiasts.