Best Buddies

Photograph shows two adult Red Kites perched on an electric pole in my field, with an escapee Harris hawk for company.

The harris hawk has been seen in the wider area for a couple of months, but has moved to be with my local pair of kites for about three weeks now.

At first glance it looks like a dark coloured buzzard, but gives itself away by often perching next to the kites, where a buzzard is not so confiding.

It is an American hawk, kept in this country by falconers either for flying demonstrations or hunting rabbits. This one is complete with jesses and bells which tinkle when it takes flight.

It is natural that it wants the close company of the kites (which are not aggressive birds) as in its natural environment in the States it hunts in pairs or packs. One bird will fly to the ground when such as a rabbit runs for cover, and others will surround the cover hoping to panic the rabbit into bolting, when they can pounce, or fly in short pursuit.

Some years ago I had a day hunting rabbits with harris hawks. They are very effective hunters, flying low to the ground after a bolting rabbit, catching it in full flight that means often rolling over with the momentum or being carried some distance until the tightening talons penetrate a vital organ. Such is nature.

Its presence will benefit the kites, which are mainly carrion feeders and incapable of killing a fully-grown adult rabbit themselves.