Done with Derwent Graphite pencil 8B – on grey hand-made paper – 25″ × 18″

1. There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build, and yet leave a landscape, as it was before.
   - Robert Lynd

FOUR years ago the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort, South Africa, had a crisis. Their magnificent Black Eagle male disappeared and it was thought that a 40-year old breeding programme would come to an end.

But the female (Emoyeni) eagle took charge. She disappeared for several days, and reappeared with a young male, Thulani, and the pair have continued breeding ever since. Their habitat is, however, critically endangered by the enormous development in the area and they are recorded as having to go as far as Hartebeespoort Dam area, 60km away, to find suitable prey.

The Garden, some 30 kilometres west of the city centre at Roodepoort, is one of a network of eight botanical gardens around the country. It consists of around 300 hectares of landscaped and natural veld areas, planted with only indigenous trees, 600 species of indigenous flowering plants and shrubs. Over 230 species of birds have been recorded in the Garden as well as a number of reptiles and small mammals.

1. Read more on the Black Eagle at Hedgie’s Nature Journal

1. See the companion sketch Black Eagle here

1. 3rd September 2010 – FEATURED in Naturally Black/White Duo and Contrast

Framed print

Companion sketch (click on pic)