The Harrier Emblem

A competition was held in the club to find a new club emblem. This was won by Dave Cook who had selected the Black Harrier, one which was often seen in the conservancy across the road from the Hilton Hotel.

(Wikipedia)

Black harrier

The Black harrier (Circus maurus) is a medium-sized African harrier  whose range extends from South Africa to Botswana and Namibia.

It has a wingspan of 105–115 cm and a body length of 44–50 cm.[2]

When perched, this bird appears all black. However, in flight a white rump and flight feathers become visible. Its morphology is comparable to that of other harriers, with a slim body, narrow wings and a long tail. Male and female plumages are similar. Juveniles have buff under-parts and a heavily spotted breast.

Like other harriers it nests on the ground in tall vegetation. Three to five eggs are laid and incubated 35 days.

It feeds mostly on small rodents and birds and will occasionally take reptiles, catching them while flying low over its hunting grounds.

The greatest number of breeding pairs can be found in the Western Cape  province, South Africa. In this area loose colonies aggregate around coastal wetlands. Breeding in Namibia is suspected but not confirmed.

The black harrier population has declined in recent years to less than 1000 birds and it is now classified as vulnerable, despite still having a wide breeding range. This is due to the destruction of its original breeding habitat, South Africa's natural shrubland, the  fynbos, which has been greatly reduced by encroaching cereal culture and urban expansion.