4. Hamerkop This extraordinary-looking bird is the only member of its ‘family’; and you have to say it looks prehistoric, something like a modern day pterodactyl. The name means ‘hammer-head’ in Afrikaans, and you can see why: it is unmistakeable. They are only found in Africa, Mozambique and the south-west Arabian peninsula. Because their bill and habits are rather stork-like, they are grouped near the storks in bird books. They are pretty well always standing near or in different kinds of water, from streams to the edges of lakes and dam walls; but also decimating fishponds in suburban gardens. They stand at or in the edge of the water, looking quizzically from one eye tilted over, and then the other eye, looking for frogs or fish. They, too, can often be seen overhead flying home after a long day’s fishing. It is hard to describe their loud call, often emitted in flight: one book speaks of “a dominant yip pruurr sound”, and that is quite reminiscent but only after you have heard it. They build large and untidy nests out of sticks, adding to it year after year: sometimes the nests can become as big as the tree and heavy enough to break branches. Birds of AFRICAMA House 13