If another bird or cat comes to harm the chicks, they chase it away.įrom the time of egg laying till the chicks move out of the nest, the black kite is seen doing the same daily work. Until the chicks take their first flight, the parents keep a watch over them from a distance. After a while, fly again a small distance and rest. They fly a little and sit on a nearby tree or terrace. When they have the confidence to fly, they sit on the edge of a branch and take off. Gradually they increase the walking distance and start flapping their wings. When it is time to fly, the chicks leave the nest and walk four to five steps on the branch, sit there for a while, and come back to the nest. Gradually they look brownish as their feathers develop. The chicks of black kites are grey in color when born. Mostly they hunt individually but a flock of them can also execute a well-coordinated counterattack when they feel threatened.ĭespite all their powerful flight, mid-air manoeuvrability, and hunting skills, black kites, the hunters, become prey of more powerful hunters like Eurasian eagle-owls. Apart from this, these raptors also prey on mice, snakes, lizards, and other small birds. Before a pigeon knows anything, it becomes prey of black kites because pigeons are by nature naïve (or rather dumb), slow-moving, and remain in large flocks. Ahmedabad has a good population of pigeons. The food of black kites is other small birds, especially pigeons. Black kites are scavengers, but they also hunt. Both males and females are seen sharing and eating food together. In winter, black kites open their wings and bask in the sun. Parent kites watching their young one as the latter tries to fly. So black kites chasing crows is a rather common sight during winter. During their mating season, the crows harass black kites by pecking them. After a black kite eats its prey and flies away, the crows eat the residue of such prey. Apart from this, black kite’s kills are also a blessing for crows. The crows watch when the eggs are laid, the chicks hatch and often prey on them. Due to the large size of the nest and the black kite itself, it comes into the sight of the crows. The eggs and hatchlings of a black kite are at risk because of crows. They build the nest, hatch the eggs, bring food, and take turns to keep a watch on the nest. Males and females both participate equally in parenting. To build a strong nest, a black kite uses large and thick twigs, strings, pieces of clothes, hays, etc. Hatchlings also stay for about 45 days in the nest. Because the bird itself is big in shape, it needs a big and strong nest to hatch the eggs. They build their nest on a tree at a height from where three-four thick branches are emerging. This period is shorter as compared to other birds. Once they choose their partners, the male strolls for a few minutes to where the female is, and then both mate. It is quite amazing to watch such a display which involves lots of acrobatics. They call each other loudly, lock their talons, and fall freely, spinning or tumbling or cartwheeling from a height. Many times, an aerial courtship display, called talon-grappling, is performed by black kites (both males and females) to attract the partner. One such site is the Ahmedabad University campus where one can find around 150 black kites roosting together in the evenings. Black kites prefer sunny hot places and, therefore, are found more in dry hot places like Ahmedabad and Delhi.
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