Black Kite [Milvus migrans] is one of the birds of prey that habitats in our locality where fortunately many trees and some greenery are still surviving. The neighbouring premise has a good number. Some of these kites roost there. Black Kites are easily distinguishable from their forked tails which are visible during flight. When it perches, this is not seen.
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This is a shot I took from the balcony as it was perching on an end branch of the neighbour's tree. Its wingspan is quite wide. The picture below, taken by me of our tree reveals it.
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Watching them do various things is a delightful experience, whether they collect large twigs to make their nests, fight for rivalry, chase the crows when they intrude their nest, perch on the tip of an electric pole surveying for food and even their calls. I got to observe an unusual sight recently. A particular kite was shifting its nest from the neighbour's tree to another tree at some distance. It was removing the twigs from its nest and depositing at its new nest. May be it had found a better place and for cheaper rent!!
The best sight is when they soar and glide, circling and in pairs. They keep doing this for any length of time, sometimes they go far away but return to view. There will be others also higher up in the sky randomly flying, so far up that they are like mere tiny dots.
This pair have been doing this circling ritual since many days and sometimes, I forget other things when I stand and keep watching them and engrossment at times takes me to a level when even the traffic noise outside suddenly seem to get "unnoised"!
They reminded me of Pair Skating. It is such a delight to watch their very graceful and elegant movements.
[Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images]
Here are a few stills I took recently of that pair of kites:
A video of another kite, another day.
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