23/05/2026
This beautiful Black Kite was hovering and was lucky enough to take a photo.
Fast facts:
They Intentionally Spread Wildfires: Black Kites, along with a few other raptors, are the only non-human animals known to harness fire. During bushfires, they will swoop in to grab burning sticks and drop them into dry, unburned vegetation. This forces hidden prey—like small reptiles and insects—to flee, allowing the kites to hunt in the chaos.
They Form Massive Meg-Flocks: Unlike most solitary birds of prey, Black Kites are highly sociable. They congregate in massive roosts, sometimes numbering up to 1,000 birds near abundant food sources like landfills or grasshopper swarms.
Dangerous Aerial Courtship: To find a mate, they engage in a thrilling and risky mid-air ritual called "grappling". Two kites will lock their talons together high in the sky and spin downward in a chaotic spiral, only letting go just before hitting the ground.
They Eat in Mid-Air: Black Kites are incredibly agile foragers. They do not need to land to eat; they can sn**ch small prey from the ground or water, and consume it while continuously flying.They Are Unparalleled Scavengers: As opportunistic feeders, their diet includes almost anything. They feed on live prey, carrion, human refuse, and have even been known to harvest palm oil fruits.
They Can Recognize Individual Humans: Research has indicated that these raptors possess high intelligence and can identify individual humans, adapting their behavior accordingly.
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