how do birds start fires

In the savanna country of northern Australia, the vegetation is well adapted to the areas recurrent fires. As flames sweep across the savanna, Black Kites watch for prey like grasshoppers and lizards that flee the fire. But theres now evidence that Black Kites may actually create fires by carrying burning twigs in their talons and dropping them on a patch of savanna away from the original wildfire. The kites then pick off the escaping prey. Setting a new area ablaze allows that individual kite to feed in a space where there arent so many rival predators.

The savanna country of northern Australia is one of the most fire-prone natural habitats in the world, and the vegetation is well adapted to the recurrent fires. As a fire sweeps across the savanna, birds of prey such as Black Kites stand or hover near the fires margin, awaiting prey like grasshoppers and lizards fleeing the flames. [Black Kite calling, http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/1520, 0.25-.28]

But theres now growing evidence that Black Kites arent only opportunists. They may actually help create some of these fires by carrying burning twigs in their talons, dropping them on a patch of savanna away from the original wildfire, and picking off the escaping prey.

Setting a new area ablaze allows that individual kite to feed in a space where there arent so many rival predators. [Black Kite calling, http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/1520, 0.25-.28]

During the 2016 fire season in Australia, two scientists collected data to document this phenomenon. Accounts from fire fighters, park rangers, and other stewards of the land echo the knowledge of indigenous people of northern Australia, who have long known about birds propagating fires.

This has led some to speculate that early humans might even have learned how to use fire, based on watching these birds carrying burning embers.

For BirdNote, Im Mary McCann. ### Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. 1520 recorded by Peter G. Kaestner. BirdNotes theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler. Producer: John Kessler Executive Producer: Sallie Bodie © 2017 Tune In to Nature.org January 2017 / 2019 / 2022 Narrator: Mary McCann

This story was produced with support from the Bobolink Foundation. ID# BLAK-01-2017-01-25 BLAK-01http://wildfiretoday.com/2016/02/07/did-humans-learn-how-to-use-fire-ashttps://www.academia.edu/22034053/Ornithogenic_Fire_Raptors_as_Propagators_of_Fire_in_the_Australian_Savanna

Not that Bonta is uninterested in the ethnographic component; in fact, he has already developed a pseudo-hypothesis suggesting that birds have long controlled fire and that early humans may have been motivated to do the same upon seeing this characteristic. He states, “There’s some anthropological background here that shows humans interact with other species and learn from them.” That is, if they can initially demonstrate that birds are the ones who control fire.

“When Native Americans talk about a good fire, they say it’s a fire with a lot of kites on it,” says Gosford, who also holds a post-graduate degree in ornithology from Australia’s Charles Sturt University. He believes that this statement demonstrates the Aboriginal people’s underlying cultural connection between these “fire birds” and the idea of spreading fire.

Gosford describes the work as “ethno-biological research,” adding that he presented it at multiple conferences in November 2015. It is also founded on recurrent observations made through the retelling of myths, as well as on firsthand accounts and memories passed down through the ages. .

Currently, there is no physical proof of this actionwhich makes skeptics doubtful. For example, Steve Debus, an expert in predatory birds from the University of New England, told The Daily Mail that he thought it would be hard to prove whether the birds were purposely picking up burning sticks to spread fire or if the action were merely accidental. He added, though that he thought Black Kites and Brown Falcons are sufficiently intelligent to intentionally spread fires by dropping burning embers, because Black Kites have been seen to drop bread scraps from picnic areas into nearby waterholes to bait fish within striking range.

“You can tell if you are in the right place at the right time by informants,” Gosford claims. And according to Bonta, that’s precisely the next step in the investigation. He is hoping to help Gosford with the field study research by going to Australia in the near future. Because of El Nino, it is expected that this year’s fire season in Northern Australia will be long and severe. He plans to travel there to help.

The vegetation in northern Australia’s savanna region has adapted well to the frequent fires in the area. Black Kites scan the savanna for escaping lizards and grasshoppers as flames spread across it. However, there is now proof that Black Kites can start fires by dropping burning twigs on a savanna patch far from the original wildfire with their talons. The kites then pick off the escaping prey. An isolated kite can feed in an area with fewer competing predators when it sets a new area on fire.

Observing these birds carrying burning embers has led some to theorize that early humans may have even learned how to use fire.

Two scientists in Australia gathered data to record this phenomenon during the 2016 fire season. Narratives from park rangers, firefighters, and other land stewards corroborate the understanding of northern Australian indigenous people, who have long been aware of birds spreading fires.

However, there’s mounting proof that Black Kites are more than just sly opportunists. By carrying burning twigs in their talons, dropping them on a savanna patch away from the original wildfire, and snatching at the fleeing prey, they may actually be contributing to the start of some of these fires.

FAQ

What birds intentionally start fires?

The birds known as firehawks include the Black Kite, Whistling Kite, and Brown Falcon; Black Kites are also found in Asia and Africa. Bonta notes some old reports from Texas and Florida about caracaras setting fires as well. Black Kites at a fire, Borroloola, Northern Territory, Australia, 2014.

How do wildlife fires start?

Nearly 85 percent* of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans. Human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, equipment use and malfunctions, negligently discarded cigarettes, and intentional acts of arson. Lightning is one of the two natural causes of fires.

What do birds do in a fire?

What do birds do when wildfires break out? No surprise here: They fly away. In the Western forests that U.S. Forest Service research biologist Vicki Saab studies, birds evolved alongside fire and flee in the face of conflagrations. Direct mortality is not a big concern, Saab says.

How do black kites cause fires?

As flames sweep across the savanna, Black Kites watch for prey like grasshoppers and lizards that flee the fire. But there’s now evidence that Black Kites may actually create fires by carrying burning twigs in their talons and dropping them on a patch of savanna away from the original wildfire.