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Arts & Life
The Clarion \ February 19, 2020
Weekly Horoscopes
By Mickayla Smith
staff Writer
Aries: You will receive some information this
week that may ruffle your feathers. However,
don't be so discouraged from this information.
Take the time to think about the pros and cons of
the situation. You may then see the silver lining.
Taurus: A warm sense of relief will wash
over you this week. Fears about an important
relationship will seem to disappear. When this
relief comes, take time to think about it and
what you can learn from the situation.
Gemini: There was a time when a bridge
between you and another person was burned.
This week, you may see this bridge being
rebuilt. The bridge isn't going to build itself,
so you will have to take part in the building
process. This will be difficult, but worth the
hardship.
Cancer: Don't set your dreams aside. You
may have been neglecting your goals lately, and
that has taken you out of your element. If you
don't seize the moment to act upon a dream, you
may never get another opportunity.
Leo: You have helped someone recently
with something you may consider small, but
this isn't how the other party feels. This small
act of kindness speaks volumes to this person,
and down the road, you may need to help them
again. Helping them has made you feel warm
inside, and you may get this opportunity again
soon. If you feel inclined to help this person,
then do it again.
Virgo: The window of opportunity is wide
open for you this week. Take this time to get
things done that have been on your plate.
However, be careful to not get distracted,
because the window of opportunity may close
soon.
Libra: There is a lot of positive energy
surrounding you this week. You may be in the
market for a new job or career change, so take
advantage of this energy and put yourself out
there!
Scorpio: If information is coming from some
place that you're not familiar with, second
guess it. Not everything appears as they seem,
so always think before you act. You'll thank
yourself in the long run.
Sagittarius: Make business your priority
this week. If you keep pushing off important
business, this will only put you behind
everyone else. It is more frustrating to catch up
than to do the work in the first place.
Capricorn: You have been praying for a
break, but don't get too discouraged yet. Keep
working and a break will come naturally. You
are at the point where things are getting a little
difficult, but don't stop your momentum. Keep
pushing yourself
Aquarius: Sometimes people aren't as nice as
they seem. Someone may offer you something
that is very generous, but don't be fooled. This
person could have an ulterior motive and the
sooner you figure this out, the better off you'll
be.
Pisces: Your inner light will be shining so
bright this week. People will be more drawn
to you, and this could lead to a new friendship
or romantic relationship. Take the time to get
to know these people and don't share too much
of yourself all at once.
The Secretary Bird: Sagittarius serpentarius
By Solomon Turner
staff Writer
Sagittarius serpentarius, otherwise known as
the Secretary Bird, is one of the only terrestrial
birds of prey in the world,spending most of
its time strolling its habitat hunting for prey,
according to the San Diego Zoo.
These splendent birds, as stated by the San
Diego Zoo, stand at 4.1 to 4.9 feet tall, weigh
about 5.5 pounds and have the longest legs
of any bird of prey. Their body is similar to
an eagle which is disproportionately matched
to crane-like legs. When in flight, the legs
trail behind the body further cementing the
comparison to a crane.
The feathering consists of black quills on their
head, long gray wing and tail feathers and black
feathers resembling a pair of shorts extending
a small way down their long crane-like legs.
This stylish appearance is what gives them their
common name of Secretary Bird. Other notable
features are their bare face which has orange to
red pigmentation and their blunt, stubby claws
which are more beneficial for walloping than
manipulating prey.
The habitat Saggittarius serpenterius lives in
ranges from savannah to grasslands, including
agricultural lands that are studded with acacia
trees. Their territory can be upwards to 19
square miles, and while some individuals may
be nomadic, this is generally due to scarce food
resources. In general, they are found anywhere
on the African continent below the Sahara
Desert.
They tend to live in loose groups of two to
five individuals and spend most of their time
earthbound, hunting for their snake, rodent
and insect prey. According to San Diego Zoo,
these birds use two main methods of capturing
their prey. One is by running them down and
bludgeoning them with their blunt claws and the
other is by striking prey with their beak.
When Saggittarius serpentarius decide to
mate, the male and female birds perform a
mating dance, a common occurrence in birds.
This includes aerial acrobatics of circling, dives
and occasionally midair locking of claws. Once
mated, these lifelong, monogamous birds share
all duties required for producing offspring.
Together they will build an extremely large
nest that can be eight feet across in the tops of
acacia trees and will use it for many years until
the nest is too old or too large for the tree to
support. When the nest is complete, the female
will lay two to three pale green eggs. While the
chicks are in the nest, the parents will feed them
a liquefied, regurgitated diet of small mammals
and insects.
According to Animal Diversity Web, unlike
most birds of prey, parents are generally
successful in raising multiple offspring and
chicks do not practice siblicide. This is a
practice in which one chick will push out other
eggs or siblings in order to ensure its survival
and the parents’ attention.
In terms of conservation, these birds are well
known and beneficial to Africans. This is seen
in agricultural lands where farmers benefit from
the bird’s predation on snakes, rodents and insect
pests. The lUCN Red List categorizes these birds
as vulnerable as their numbers are large but have
seen recent rapid reduction in population size.
According to San Diego Zoo and lUCN Red
List, they are protected under the 1964’s Africa
Convention of the Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources, and their home range is
found in many National Parks throughout the
continent.