By Obiabin Onukwugha
Kites are birds of prey with long wings and forked tails that are known for soaring and gliding. They are found in warm regions around the world.
Kites have long wings and weak legs They have smaller beaks and weaker talons than other birds of prey Their long wingspan makes them look bigger in flight than they are.
Hausas call it “shirwā̀”, Igbos call it “Egbe” and Yorubas call it ‘ásâ”.
Kites are opportunistic hunters and will take a variety of prey. They are also known for scavenging on carrion and around rubbish tips. Kites spend most of their time soaring and gliding.
Most kites feed primarily on carrion, while some seize live prey. Some kites live on insects, while others are primarily scavengers but also eat rodents and reptiles and a few are strictly snaileaters.
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They build nests high in dead trees–often a 100 feet from the ground! They often nest in loose colonies with other kites, usually by water. Both males and females incubate and feed the growing babies. Their incubation is 28-30 days–a long time if you’re a bird used to soaring through the sky.
Kites snatch insects out of the air and take lizards and snakes off leaves with their talons. Then they transfer prey from their talons to their hooked beaks, all while on the wing.
Kite symbolizes unity, freedom, and the connection between heaven and earth. The act of flying a kite is seen as a way to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. It is believed that the higher the kite flies, the closer it gets to the gods, bringing blessings to the people.
Kite birds are important to the ecosystem because they help control pests, clean up waste, and prevent the spread of disease.
Different kite species have different breeding behaviors, including age at first breeding, number of eggs, and nest building materials.
Red kite
Red kites usually breed at 2–4 years old
They lay around three eggs in a clutch
They return to the same nest each season, adding new material to it
The female stays with the eggs while the male hunts for food
Chicks leave the nest at around 60 days old
Black kite
Black kites breed once a year from March to August
They lay 1–5 eggs per season, with an average of 2–3
They build nests in large trees, mobile towers, and electric pylons
They use plant matter, clothes, paper, and plastic for nesting
Mississippi kite
Mississippi kites form pairs around mid-May
They build nests in the fork of a tree, 3–30 meters from the ground
They use small twigs and sticks with a lining of Spanish moss
The female lays 1–3 eggs, usually 2
Both parents incubate the eggs for 29–32 days
Chicks leave the nest at about 25 days old, and begin flying at 30–35 days old
Environmental conditions, such as extreme temperature, wind velocity, and rainfall can influence breeding in kites.
Kites are known to adapt the disused nests of corvids and buzzards. Feeding areas usually encompass pastoral agricultural land and can be up to 10 km from the nest-site. Eggs are laid from late March to May. There are usually 2-3 eggs in a clutch; there is a single brood, and young fledge by mid-July.
