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In
the southern Kalahari alone, two mammals and five birds were observed to
follow foraging honey badgers with the most common associations between
honey badgers and pale chanting goshawks. In the Kalahari study, honey
badgers caught more than 80% of their prey through digging, and small
mammals and small reptiles were the most common prey items caught. When
digging for these small prey items more than 40 % of the lizards and
rodents escaped above ground and it is these escaped prey items that are
available for capture by the associating species. These associations
appear to be a form of commensalism where other opportunistic predators
key into the opportunities provides by the hunting efforts of the honey
badgers, and this appears to have few direct costs or benefits to the
badgers.
Birds
and Badgers
More
than five species of birds have been recorded feeding in association with
the honey badger. The most regularly documented of these is the
relationship between the pale chanting-goshawk (Melierax canorus) and
badgers.
Pale
Chanting Goshawk, Melierax canorus
Since
the early 1970’s various observations of pale chanting- goshawks foraging
alongside honey badgers have been made in Kenya, Botswana, Namibia and
South Africa, particularly the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park.
During the recently completed 42 months of badger research in the Kalahari
this fascinating association was recorded on a regular basis. As many as
six goshawks were seen following a single badger . In the Kalahari this
behaviour can best be seen during the dry winter months when badgers spend
much of the day foraging. The badgers are powerful and prolific diggers
and repeatedly flush rodents and reptiles from their underground refuges,
ideal prey for the goshawks.
In
addition to badgers pale chanting-goshawks have also been recorded
following slender mongoose, Galerella sanguinea and
snakes in what appear to be similar associations. The dark chanting
goshawk Melierax metabates has been observed
following Ground hornbills, Bucorvus leadbeateri.
In
addition we are aware of two anecdotal observations of the dark chanting-goshawk Melierax metabates (P.Chadwick pers. comm. & C. Roche,
pers comm.) following badgers in more wooded, mesic habitats
in the lowveld of South Africa
Greater
Honeyguide, Indicator indicator
The
relationship involving the badger and honey guide is often cited as example of mutualism between a bird and a mammal.
Honeyguides and
badgers have been observed together on a number of occasions but such an association is, however , disputed by some
ornithologists. The research in the Kalahari (where the greater honeyguide
does not occur) suggests that elements of both arguments are incorrect,
simply because so little information has been available on badger
behaviour in the wild; for instance, badgers are competent tree climbers
and do break into bee hives during the day. Until a study is conducted
where both species co-exist, this issue will remain unresolved.
Spotted
Eagle-owl, Bubo africanus
Spotted
eagle-owls have been recorded following honey badgers in the Kalahari.
This association was first reported by P Steyn in 1982 who states that the
eagle-owl was seen in the company of a Pale chanting-goshawk in broad
daylight as they followed a badger. On
a number of occasions eagle-owls were recorded following badgers at night
by K & C Begg, during their study in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Badgers
and other mammals
African
wildcat, Ethiopian wolves, and black-backed jackals have all been
observed following honey badgers during both the day and the night. In the
Kalahari, black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are
frequently seen following badgers whilst they foraged. Similar to the
goshawks, jackals wait
to pounce or strike on fleeing rodents and reptiles that have been flushed
by the badger’s considerable digging efforts. The relatively slow badger
is powerless to prevent these hangers-on and seems to gain no advantage
from their company. This relationship changes during the jackal
breeding season when pups are potential prey of honey badgers, and
during this time jackals chase and nip at badgers that come close to their
den. Likewise when badgers have a young cub in the den, jackals are
chased off as they are known to taken badger cubs.
We
would encourage anyone who has seen interesting behaviour to
contact
us.
Suggested
reading:
Borello,W.
& Borello, R. 1986. Chanting Goshawks foraging with honey badger. Babbler
12: 25.
Cooper R.L.
1976. Strange hunting companions. Custos June/July.42-44.
Dean W.R.J.
& Macdonald I.A.W. 1981. A review of African birds feeding in
association with mammals. Ostrich 52: 135-155
Dean W.R.J.
1985. Greater Honeyguides and Ratels: how long will the myth continue? Proc.
Symp. Birds & Man, Johannesburg 1983:217-223
Dean W.R.J,
Siegfried W.R. & Macdonald I.A.W. 1990. The fallacy, fact, and fate of
Guiding behaviour in the Greater honeyguide. Conservation Biology.
Vol.4 No.1
Guy, R.D.
1971 Goshawks, Ratels and wild honey. African Wildlife 25: 53
Lombard
A.P.F. 1989. Associations between raptors and small carnivores.Gabar.4 (1)
Macdonald
I. 1994. The Honeyguide and the honey badger: a persistent african fairy
tale. Africa- Environment & Wildlife Vol.2 No.4
Nelson, R.
& Nelson, J 1987. Observations of a honey badger and Chanting Goshawks
at Nxai Pan. Babbler 14: 18-19.
Paxton M.
1988. Foraging associations between Pale chanting goshawks , honey badgers
and Slender mongooses. Gabar 3:82-84
Steyn P.
1982. Birds of prey of southern Africa. David Philip, Cape Town.
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