^^'•^^^■1 Strav Feathers. 311 



1921 



Stray Feathers 



Black Kites. — Reading some back numbers of yiic Emu I 

 noted in noI. ii., part 2, 1902, that the explorer Sturt apparently 

 feared attack from the Common Fork-tailed Kite {Milvus 

 migrans), whilst in the interior of the continent. Your contribu- 

 tor, "H.Q.H.," asks if any other explorer has observed this 

 peculiar trait of the Kite. Whilst not an explorer, I can justly 

 claim to be conversant with the habits of these birds, as I have 

 had a life-long experience of them in the interior, and I can with- 

 out hesitation state that it will not attack human beings. I'have 

 seen hundreds of these graceful birds flying at one time. When 

 one is riding over the plains in the inland, these Kites often 

 swoop down towards one. They do this to find out if the rider 

 is disturbing grasshoppers; if not, they soon clear off again. 

 Should grasshoppers be plentiful, the Kites will accompany the 

 horseman for long distances, capturing the disturbed insects in 

 their talons and eating them as they fly along. On many oc- 

 casions the birds, in their endeavour to capture an insect, will 

 come within arm's reach, and often, to avoid contact with the 

 horse or rider, will .spread out the tail feathers and talons, give 

 forth a shrill whistle, stop abruptly, and shoot up into the air. 

 The Kite is a great feeder on grasshoppers, and when this pest 

 is plentiful one rarely notes these birds limiting for other food 

 in the shape of offal or carrion. It is interesting to note that 

 the Kite invariably captures the insects in the talons. 



I have never observed it capture a rabbit or a bird ; though its 

 young are often fed on small rabbits, and I have noted it at- 

 tempt to capture a Shell Parrot from a large flock. After many 

 unsuccessful dashes into the flock, it gave up and flew off as if 

 quite satisfied. 



At shearing time, which in the interior takes place from June 

 to August, these Kites are vei-y numerous, and hundreds may be 

 seen on the ground or flying near the woolshed, where they pick 

 up scraps thrown from the shearers' kitchen, or lambs' tails, etc., 

 thrown out from the yards. I have often seen men betting on 

 the ability of these birds to catch a piece of meat thrown up into 

 the air. It is truly wonderful how adept these Kites are in this 

 respect. It is amusing to see a bird that has thus caught a tit-bit 

 chased by its companions. Sometimes when closely piessed it 

 will allow the morsel to drop, but it is in\ariably caugli'. by an- 

 other bird before it reaches the ground. Though it has often 

 been seen feeding with domestic fowls, and even venturing into 

 a wire-netted fowlhouse, the Kite has not been seen to molest 

 fowls or chickens. 



To sum up. It is a most inoffensive bird, has no bad habits, 

 is of great economic value on account of the destruction it 

 causes to the grasshopper pest, and is as worthy of total protec- 

 tion as any bird that I can call to mind. — J. Neil McGilp, 

 King's Park. S.A. 



