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Observing Black Kites: A Unique Birdwatching Experience

The Black Kite is a bit of an unusual raptor in that they seem to gather in big numbers at times in Australia and in other places throughout the world. We blundered across one such gathering in northern Victoria recently. We had been visiting a friend in southern NSW for the day and just on a whim decided to go down this back road instead of what Google Maps was telling us. To our surprise there were at least 200 plus birds gathered at this dairy/beef farm. The farmer was burning some rubbish. My understanding is that they can be often seen scavenging around rubbish dumps or where there is intensive cattle grazing like this dairy farm. They also can gather when there is a bushfire or grassfire, quite quickly at times to seek out escaping insects and reptiles, I have personally seen them at a bushfire edge. Many years ago we observed a large flock on a trip to the Northern Territory soaring above the town of Katherine.

The Black Kite has a considerable range across the World, all through Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, but not in the Americas according to eBird records.

Black Kites in flight with the distinctive tail shape.

These birds seemed to be juveniles.

There were several of these large clusters above the road. My estimation is that they are all Black Kites.

These birds appeared to be juveniles.

Roadside view.

The characteristic flicking of the tail feathers to control flight.

Kites in a tree. Apologies for this image. The light was difficult to manage.

Roosting in this dead tree.

Note when roosting the the long tail feathers protrude beyond the primaries. Short legs and dark marking around the eye.

A unique experience.


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