The fish eagle is a master fisherman. It soars high above the water, spots a fish near the surface, then folds its wings and plunges feet-first, snatching the fish with its enormous curved talons. The whole dive takes just a second. If the fish is too heavy to carry, the eagle will even use its wings like oars and paddle itself to shore.
African fish eagles mate for life and return to the same nest year after year, adding sticks each season until the nest can become enormous — sometimes more than a metre across. Both parents take turns keeping the eggs warm and feeding the chick once it hatches.
You can find fish eagles along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, perched high up in dead trees where they have a clear view of the water below. Their call — a high, wild, liquid yelp — carries huge distances across the lake and becomes one of the most memorable sounds of any visit to Burundi's shores.