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Australia's 'Firehawks' Use Flames to Hunt
21 Jan
Summary
- Raptors like black kites are known as 'firehawks' for using fire.
- These birds may intentionally spread fires using burning sticks.
- The exact intent of this behavior remains debated by researchers.
Australia's raptors, dubbed 'firehawks,' have developed remarkable tactics involving fire.
Species such as the black kite and whistling kite have been observed actively participating in fire events. Local Indigenous knowledge and numerous eyewitness accounts describe these birds retrieving smoldering sticks from active bushfires.
These raptors then transport these burning embers, sometimes over considerable distances. They drop them onto unburned vegetation, potentially igniting new fires to flush out prey.
While this behavior is strongly supported by anecdotal evidence and traditional knowledge, conclusive scientific proof remains elusive. Researchers continue to investigate whether this fire-spreading is an intentional hunting strategy or an accidental byproduct of foraging near flames.
