Wildlife experts repair damaged feathers of Yellow-billed Kite [Video]
Yellow-billed Kites are the most visible birds of prey on the African continent.
AFTER being admitted to the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) with a damaged tail, a resilient Yellow-billed Kite has been given a new lease on life and will soon be ready to be released into the wild.
The kite was kept in a chicken coop where his beautiful tail feathers had been broken off.
Also read: Warmer days bring the yellow-billed kites to play
Crow’s operations director, Clint Halkett-Siddall, said upon arrival, the kite received top-notch care and treatment from nurses.
“Initially, we planned to keep him through the winter for a natural moult. But when we called in Bruce Padbury from the Natal Falconry Club, he performed imping, which is a process of repairing damaged feathers by attaching part of a new feather.
“We’ll be keeping a close eye on our feathered friend for the next five days as he adjusts to his new tail. Once he’s ready, this beauty will spread his wings and be released back into the wild in the upcoming week.
“The support of donors makes stories like this possible. We thank our supporters for being a part of our journey,” Halkett-Siddall said.
Did you know?
The Yellow-billed Kite is recognised by its conspicuous yellow bill. Feather colouration is dark brown, and its tail is V-shaped. It is a medium-sized raptor, and although size variation occurs, it generally measures about 55cm in height and weighs up to 1kg. Wingspan can reach 1.5m.
Their diet consists mainly of small vertebrates, insects, termites, carrion and fish. Kites are formidable fliers, assisted by their well-developed tails for direction and stability. They can catch and eat their insect prey in flight. Kites are capable of sudden and accelerated bursts of speed. When termites are hatching from the ground, it is not uncommon to see several kites active in a feeding frenzy.
Scavenging also forms a large part of their diet. In this sense, kites are rather bold, and with their advanced flying skills, are known to pinch meat off a braai fire and snatch lunchtime sandwiches out of a person’s hand. Kites are bold enough to challenge other raptors for their meals.
For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram.
