Today, I want to share some rare scenes of a group of wild birds moving in circles high in the sky. The weather in Karachi changed completely last week with sudden rain and a noticeable drop in temperature. The minimum temperature reached 16 degrees, but it felt more like 10.
During my break at work, I went to the rooftop to get some sunshine. To my surprise, I witnessed a unique and amazing phenomenon. Hundreds of birds were flying in a group, circling, and gradually ascending into the sky. I don't usually carry my cell phone, but luckily, I had it with me this time. I quickly took it out and started taking pictures.
I felt a bit scared because some of the birds came close to me, flying just above my head. It seemed like they thought I could be their food, which added a humorous touch to the experience. Despite the fear, I tried to take as many pictures as I could. I've seen this bird activity a couple of times before but never had the chance to capture it. I was happy that, for the first time, I had plenty of time to photograph them.
When I got home and analyzed the pictures, many questions popped up in my mind. In Urdu, we call these birds "Cheel," which translates to Eagle in English. However, there are many species and different kinds of eagles, so I wondered what type of eagle they were and why they were engaged in this activity. After doing some research, I found something similar with the name of Black kite (Milvus migrans). I didn't understand much due to the technical terms, so I looked into why they were moving in a group and learned about five different reasons.
- Thermalling: Birds, including raptors, often utilize thermals—rising columns of warm air—to gain altitude without exerting much energy. By circling within these thermals, they can ascend to higher altitudes, which provides a vantage point for locating prey or navigating.
- Scanning for Food: Circling in the sky allows raptors to survey the ground below for potential food sources. They have keen eyesight and can spot prey such as small mammals, birds, or carrion.
- Migration: Some birds, including raptors, engage in circling behavior during migration. They may use thermals to cover long distances efficiently.
- Social Interaction: In some cases, circling in groups can be a form of social behavior. Birds may engage in this activity for communication, coordination, or group dynamics.
- Displaying Territorial Behavior: Raptors may also engage in soaring and circling as a way to assert territorial dominance or communicate with other birds in the area.
In the case of Black kites, their behavior may vary based on factors like the availability of food, thermals, and social interactions. The circling behavior helps them efficiently navigate their environment, locate prey, and conserve energy.
Nature consistently brings new surprises and opportunities to learn. While humans are considered the smartest and strongest creatures on Earth, there are other beings that excel in their own ways. Nature is rich with fascinating phenomena, and there is much more for us to uncover from its unpredictable behavior. I recently came across something intriguing and wanted to share it with all of you.