This is a bird note.

The Savannah 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 fire's margin awaiting prey like

grasshoppers and lizards fleeing the flames.

But there's now growing evidence that Black Kites aren't 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 aren't so

many rival predators.

During the 2016 fire season in Australia, two scientists collected data to document this phenomenon.

Accounts from firefighters, 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 carry

burning embers. For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.

Today's show brought to you by the Bobbling Foundation. you're