The dwindling numbers of migrating Yellow-billed Kites

The last few weeks of intermittent rain and humid spells with the ever-shortening sunlight has certainly opened the gateway to shifts in bird migration. The earlier sunsets and later sunrises have promoted many species to begin their migration to their wintering or summer grounds. One of my favourite raptors the rather ubiquitous Yellow-billed Kite or more fondly named, the YBK has all but disappeared, whilst seeing up to fifty or more birds in a day soaring and gliding over Durbans leafy suburbs, we now are lucky enough to see a couple in a day. As an avid amateur bird atlasser I have been keeping tabs on their departure and migration. Today I was lucky enough to see four different birds still active and pirating food from indignant Pied Crows. The YBK in question was a fairly large specimen and managed to snatch away some kind of meat. My only concern was that it took place at the back end of King George hospital. A specialist public hospital for the treatment of tuberclosis and related conditions.

I think the crows must have over-turned a dustbin outside the hospital kitchen and were fighting over the scraps. Lets just hope they were not some post-operative human waste. I expect that by the end of the week the YBK's would have all but migrated on out of Durban heading further North. For you South Africans, keep an eye out for them.

Here is an interesting YouTube video on Yellow-billed Kite feeding behaviour. Its fairly short and should be too long. The video quality is not the best, but you can see some interesting parent-fledgling interactions.