What Is 'Firehawk' Behaviour Among Birds
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
Image: Pexels
"Firehawk" behavior is when birds carry burning sticks or branches to new locations, starting new fires
Image: Pexels
The birds then hunt for small animals that are fleeing the flame
Image: Pexels
Individual birds (black kites, whistling kites and brown falcons) can carry smouldering sticks retrieved from fire fronts up to a km away
Image: Pexels
They do it without singeing themselves or putting it out, and then drop them into unburnt patches of land to expand the area of devastation
Image: Pexels
Birds of prey have been known to congregate around bush fires to exploit the abundance of flying insects, rodents and reptiles as they escape the flames and smoke
Image: Pexels
But it has only just been discovered that these birds actually contribute to the spreading of the fire itself
Image: Pexels
It is thought they do this to maximise the number of fleeing prey, literally risking their life to get a meal
Image: Pexels
The birds are not able to start the fires themselves, but are able to spread once it has begun
Image: Pexels
ndtv.com