🔶The black kite (Milvus migrans)
The most common feathered predator of Siberian forests! And not only forests. The first birds can already be seen in early April, when it gets warm, the snow has already begun to melt. The most hardy, strong, and experienced adult birds begin to search for territories for a future nest and habitat. Young birds arrive later, when there is no more snow.
In the forest, they catch rodents such as mice, chipmunks or squirrels. But if they have a choice between live and fresh prey, and carrion, then they will choose the latter. These birds are lazy predators.
I have repeatedly watched them circling over the garbage bins looking out for food. And it happens that they are lucky, and they find in the garbage various scraps and bones.
They are also able to fish. We have a lot of them on the outskirts of the city, on the big river. They fly over the river looking for fish, and when they see it, they grab it from the surface of the water.
