07-09-2018, 03:45 PM
Hunting raptors start fires deliberately
15 Jan 2018 - 04:47 -- Ernest Garcia
The regular attendance of raptors at grass and scrub fires is well known. The birds hunt potential prey animals displaced by the flames. However, proof is now available from Australia that some individual Black Kites Milvus migrans, Whistling Kites Haliastur sphenurus and Brown Falcons Falco berigora deliberately spread fire by carrying burning twigs and dropping them elsewhere to start new blazes. This they seem to do largely when an existing fire is being extinguished, seemingly in order to keep it going. The use of fire as a tool has previously been thought to be unique to human beings but it may well have first been used by raptors (Bonta et al.).
Bonta, M., Gosford, R., Eussen, D., Ferguson, N., Loveless, E. & Witwer, M. (2017). Intentional Fire-Spreading by “Firehawk” Raptors in Northern Australia. Journal of Ethnobiology 37(4): 700–718.
Originally posted here, but I think you need to subscribe: https://www.hbw.com/news/hunting-raptors...liberately that's why I posted the whole thing.
Video:
I see the bug is still there, so direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJQh22sCTZI
15 Jan 2018 - 04:47 -- Ernest Garcia
The regular attendance of raptors at grass and scrub fires is well known. The birds hunt potential prey animals displaced by the flames. However, proof is now available from Australia that some individual Black Kites Milvus migrans, Whistling Kites Haliastur sphenurus and Brown Falcons Falco berigora deliberately spread fire by carrying burning twigs and dropping them elsewhere to start new blazes. This they seem to do largely when an existing fire is being extinguished, seemingly in order to keep it going. The use of fire as a tool has previously been thought to be unique to human beings but it may well have first been used by raptors (Bonta et al.).
Bonta, M., Gosford, R., Eussen, D., Ferguson, N., Loveless, E. & Witwer, M. (2017). Intentional Fire-Spreading by “Firehawk” Raptors in Northern Australia. Journal of Ethnobiology 37(4): 700–718.
Originally posted here, but I think you need to subscribe: https://www.hbw.com/news/hunting-raptors...liberately that's why I posted the whole thing.
Video:
I see the bug is still there, so direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJQh22sCTZI
Commission me! | My bases! | My art/writing! | My AMA!
Avatar by BrawlersPoison
E mare libertas!
Latest art piece:
NO DMs, PLEASE. I'M NOT ACTIVE ENOUGH.
Avatar by BrawlersPoison
E mare libertas!
Latest art piece:
NO DMs, PLEASE. I'M NOT ACTIVE ENOUGH.