The red kite, a raptor like a buzzard, was near extinction about a decade ago. In the 16th and 17th century, ordinances went out in England to put them down whenever seen. These laws were relaxed a little over the years, but then farmers insisted that these birds took their young livestock and began exterminating them again.
Lately people have realized that they are not in the least harmful and their numbers are now increasing.
I love seeing them overhead and when there is a group of them, they dance on the thermals like a corps-de-ballet. There is a definite discrepancy between their awesome appearance and their faint whimpering cry. |
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