Birdwatchers visiting farms near Greyton and Riviersonderend are delighted to see Secretary Birds, which are commonly observed striding across the rolling wheat lands and sheep pastures.

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Secretary Birds hunt by striding across the landscape and when prey is sighted, they stun or kill it with a series of rapid and accurate kicks with a force up to five times the mass of the bird itself.

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On average, Secretary Birds walk 20 to 30 km a day while foraging, making them one of the most active and visible birds in the Overberg farmlands.

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Secretary Birds stand about 1.3 meters tall and have distinctive black crest feathers that look like quill pens stuck behind their ears—giving them their unique name.

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The species was uplisted from Near-threatened to Vulnerable in 2011 and to Endangered in 2020, making sightings in the Riviersonderend valley increasingly precious.