Southern Ground Hornbill

Southern Ground Hornbill

The Southern Ground Hornbill is one of the most interesting birds in the animal kingdom. This majestic bird is under threat and now is very rare to see.

Where to Find The Southern Ground Hornbill?

You can still find this amazing bird in South Africa’s protected areas like Hluhluwe Imfolozi game reserve where I filmed this clip.

Interested to see what other videos Tim Brown Tours has to offer? Visit our YouTube page on the below link:

YouTube – Tim Brown Tours 

Some Strange Habits of the Southern Ground Hornbill

  • Near Impossible Nesting …
    • Nesting in a Hollow tree 3 meters off the ground – is no mean feat when you are the size of a Southern Ground Hornbill!
    • Once a nesting site is found and the male and female Hornbill have mated, the female will bed down. During this time the male will fly mud to the nest and both will assist in closing off the hole for the safety of the female.
    • A small hole is left for the male to fly food to the female during the incubation period. This is about 40 days.
Nested “In” … what to do in case of emergency???

The issue here is that if the male gets killed or dies on route what will the female do!?

Well the female has only two options:

  1. Break out of the nest to save herself
  2. Stay with the chicks and die!

She cannot fly food to the nest if she decides to break out. This is because she plucks her flight feathers to use as bedding (part of the nesting process)

Cainism – nature and survival of the fittest Southern Ground hornbill

Although usually 2 eggs are laid, the first born will kill the second born and usually eat its sibling. This is normal and known as Cainism. It has its route in the bible with the story of Cain vs Abel.

This ensures that one chick has the best chance of survival as two mouths to feed can be hard and this could mean both chicks do not survive.

Southern Ground Hornbills will only be fully mature at about 6 years of age meaning a long time with their parents or very small family groups.

Due to the lack of suitable nesting sites,Cainism, and the length to reach maturity, it is therefore understandable why these birds are so rare!

During a Safari with Tim Brown Tours we were lucky enough to see this family of Southern Ground Hornbill.

More Information

So for more information visit our home page. www.timbrowntours.com

If you need help then just drop us an email or have a look through our website and see if there is a Durban Safari that suits your needs.

Tim Brown Tours – with numerous awards and a long history of great reviews on TripAdvisor, can help you. So look at our alternatives to visiting the Kruger National Park. And join us for your South African Safari experience! We look forward to hosting you in the near future! Book Now and get an experience of a lifetime.

So Head on over to our website and book your very own tour today if you are interested in Nature and Travel in South Africa. 

You can follow us on the below links or visit our Website www.timbrowntours.com

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Youtube[vc_row 0=””][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_toggle title=”One Day Tours and Safaris”]Battlefields of Kwa-Zulu Natal

Drakensberg Mountains

Durban City

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve Day Safari

Shakaland Cultural Tour

Shark Cage Diving

St Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Park Safari & Tour

Tala Game Reserve PheZulu and Zulu Cultural Experience[/vc_toggle][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_toggle title=”Two Day Tours and Safaris”]Battlefields of Kwa-Zulu Natal – Isandlwana and Rorkes DriftNatal

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve – Cat Rehabilitation & St Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Park

[/vc_toggle][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_toggle title=”One Day Tours and Safaris”]Battlefields of Kwa-Zulu Natal – Anglo Zulu , Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana & Blood River

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve – Cat Rehabilitation & St Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Budget Package

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve – Cat Rehabilitation & St Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Standard Package

uKhahlamba Drakensberg Hiking & Sightseeing Tour[/vc_toggle][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column 0=”” width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1533621301485{margin-left: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text 0=””]

Hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains looking for San Rock art yields some surprises!

Finally got some time alone to just hike in the Drakensberg alone and see if I could find some undiscovered San Rock art. Well, I made my own path (Not recommended unless experienced). Tripping over hidden rocks and slippy grass, I got a really good fright as I...

The effects Covid 19 on Tourism

The effects Covid 19 on Tourism, Tim Brown Tours and what have we been doing to survive the Corona virus pandemic. There is no question that Covid 19 or the Corona Virus has single handedly driven the Tourism industry into the ground globally. ... Lions Eyes .......

Pride of Lions | The Life Of

Lions are amazing creatures with abilities that are incomprehensible, however they also have difficulties and great hardship to survive.
This post will cover a couple days in the life of a young pride of Lions, trying to survive in the African bush.

The White Rhino | Virtual Safaris

The White Rhino | Virtual Safaris … Stay with us for amazing stories facts and videos on the White Rhino.

Covid-19/Corona virus as we all know has cause chaos in the world of Tourism. I suppose the one good thing is that the wild animals in our wilderness and National parks have had a rest from tourist and our cameras for 6 months.

Lilizela Awards : Tim Brown Tours Wins : And We Remember

The White Rhino | Virtual Safaris … Stay with us for amazing stories facts and videos on the White Rhino.

Covid-19/Corona virus as we all know has cause chaos in the world of Tourism. I suppose the one good thing is that the wild animals in our wilderness and National parks have had a rest from tourist and our cameras for 6 months.

Virtual Safaris Elephants

Virtual Safaris Elephants and Bush Stories | Walk this Virtual Road with us | Watch Elephants pulling out a Water Pipe | Read some amazing facts.

Covid-19 Virtual Safaris-Leopard Facts

Covid-19 Virtual Safaris – Leopard Facts, a Bush story and videos of Leopard courtship and Mating. A virtual Leopard feast!
Tourism globally has been devastated due to Corona virus and we at Tim Brown Tours have turned to “Virtual Safaris” to keep the interest up.

Covid-19 and Virtual Safaris with Tim Brown Tours

Tim Brown Tours introduces virtual safaris during Covid-19.

Tourism in Durban, South Africa during the Corona/Covid-19 pandemic 

Tourism has always been the ever-growing side to our economy. But since the Corona/Covid-19 pandemic hit our shores in South Africa, it has been totally obliterated.

Returning to our roots to learn how to live a healthy life

Returning to our roots to learn how to live a healthy life. There is always some new diet out there or new “health” product which is better than our hard to avoid processed options we most commonly eat.

Lions Eyes

In the African bush indeed are the seen ~ and often unseen animal interactions.  One of the animal interactions we don’t see often is Rhino fighting each other for dominance. Either for the right to hold territory and/or to mate with females.

Watch : Two Big Males Fighting Hard to Hold Territory

Visit Us

Tim Brown Tours

Lions Eyes

www.timbrowntours.com

[email protected]

Tim Brown Tours - with numerous awards and a long history of great reviews on TripAdvisor, can help you. So look at our alternatives to visiting the Kruger National Park. And join us for your South African Safari experience! We look forward to hosting you in the near future! Book Now and get an experience of a lifetime.

You can also find us at  Tourist Guides and Trip Advisor

Tim Brown Tours and Safari's : Follow Us

You can follow us on the below links or visit our Website www.timbrowntours.com

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Youtube

Interested in Nature and Travel in South Africa? Then head on over to our Tours and book your very own Safari today - You know you want to!