Hamerkop Chick Fledges at Zoo
- Cameras captured the moment a Hamerkop chick at a zoo left its nest for the first time.
- The event showcases the natural behavior of the chick as it takes its first steps into the world.
- This incident highlights the zoo's efforts in wildlife monitoring and education.
A hamerkop chick named Buxton has successfully fledged its nest at Marwell Zoo, located near Winchester, just six weeks after hatching. The moment was captured on camera as Buxton took its first flight to join parents Jack Hamer and MC Hamerkop on a nearby tree branch. A zoo spokeswoman noted that the chick is already becoming difficult to distinguish from its parents due to rapid growth during its early weeks. Observers may notice Buxton's fluffier feathers and less sleek crest, which are characteristic of young hamerkops. While the sex of the chick remains undetermined, keepers report that Buxton is thriving and gaining confidence since leaving the nest on July 17. Hamerkops are native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, and south-west Arabia, and are named for their distinctive hammer-shaped heads. In their natural habitat, hamerkops inhabit wetlands, where they fish for various small aquatic creatures and forage for insects and rodents. They are known for constructing large nests, which can reach nearly five feet in diameter, using sticks, mud, and other materials. Jonathan Newton, senior animal keeper, explained that the nesting process can take three to six weeks, with both parents actively caring for the chick in the weeks following fledging. According to the zoo, hamerkops are currently listed as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, with stable population numbers.