Anatomy
Diet
Ecology
The Akuapa Mekape are only found near the Puqopen Navu or Forbidden Gorge. The birds nest and mate in the walls of the gorge, in a range from 100 to 200 feet below the top edge of the chasm. Their nests are usually comprised of branches and brush they have gathered from the surface, as well as any softer materials, such as leaves. Since the surfasce is at the edge of the Muioqa Desert, these materials can often be difficult to find. Abandoned nests are often scavenged and re-used by other Akuapa Mekape to save on effort.
As desert dwellers and inhabitants of the Gorge, they are adapted to hotter climates. Therefore, despite their ability to soar at great heights, they prefer to remain closer to the ground, as they are poorly suited for colder climes. They are also quite economical in their usage and consumption of water, as there is very little near them to consume. In fact, it is believed that they must have some source deeper in the gorge, perhaps an undocumented pond or underground river, as the distance to water for the birds would be too far for the younger birds to survive.
Genetics
Growthrate
Perception
The eyesight of the Akuapa Mekap is extraordinary, including in the dark. They can clearly distinguish a 3-inch target from as high as 8,500 ft. in daylight, and about half that distance in the dark. For this reason, they are ultimate predators, able to sight and swoop in on prey before the prey is aware of their presence.
They also have an uncanny ability to sense air currents, allowing them to stay aloft for days with minimal effort. This usually happens after a large meal, where the birds seemingly want to stretch and find a lair in which to rest. They will ride currents up to a great height, then leisurely circle down into the Puqopen Navu where they nest.
The Akuapa Mekape also have the extraordinary ability to mimic sounds. More than one adventurer has been drawn into the chasm depths by the sounds of a bird mimicking the cry of a fallen adventurer. The birds place no meaning to this sound, it is just something they have learned and becomes part of their vocalization. But the mimicry is so accurate that those on the surface often mistake it for an actual cry for help, which can lead to misfortune.