Black kites (Milvus migrans) circle near a roadway during a fire on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. Credit: Dick Eussen.
Grassland fires that are deadly and devastating events for many kinds of wildlife are a boon to certain types of birds known as fire foragers. These opportunists prey on animals fleeing from a blaze, or scavenge the remains of creatures that succumbed to the flames and the smoke. But in Australia, some fire-foraging birds are also fire starters.
Three species of raptors are widely known not only for lurking on the fringes of fires but also for snatching up smoldering grasses or branches and using them to kindle fresh flames, to smoke out mammal and insect prey.
How amazing is that?! You can read and see more at Live Science.
OK, THAT is incredible. When I was but a child in school I was always told how “superior” humans were because they used fire. All I can say is, GO, dinosaurs!
For those interested in the topic, a recent PBS Nova episode (S44E20) was entitled Bird Brains.
Funny, since in some human mythologies (like Finnish) an eagle or such bird represents lightning, the heavenly origin of fire on earth.
Since most fires in Australia have been human-induced for a long time, maybe these kites regard humans as the “Creator of Fire”?
That is a gorgeous photograph, too.
The Birds III: Inferno
Also, agreeing with Marcus Ranum at #4; that’s a great photo.
Fried grub tastes better.
Wow,birds as arsonists.
It well known that quite a few birds are tool users, but that’s remarkable. Nature truly is red in tooth and claw, with a firebrand thrown in for good measure.
Some birdies just want to see the world burn.
I’ve driven around a bit of the eastern half of Oz; I’m not surprised. Fires get going so easily there, I can really imagine how the kites could have evolved to (first) take advantage of the situation and (later) learn to help it along…