BRAHMINY KITES RE-RELEASED
LAVEZARES, Northern Samar — Three brahminy kites, that were earlier thought to be eagles, were released back to the wilds in a farm in this town.
The kites were bought by former Mayor Quintin Saludaga and saved from possible execution from a local bangus farmer who captured the birds in traps to prevent them from preying on his bangus (milkfish) fingerlings.
PENRO Supervising Ecosystem Management Specialist Nestor Collamar identified the birds of prey as kites, which belongs to the same family as eagles but are comparably smaller in size and weighing less.
Locally known as ‘banog,’ the Brahminy Kite is a medium-sized raptor with a white head and breast. The rest of its body is a striking chestnut brown but the very tip of its tail is white. The wings are broad with dark ‘fingered’ and its tail is short.
The Brahminy Kite feeds on dead animals, insects and fish. It swoops low over water, the ground or tree tops and snatches live prey from the surface. It also steals from fish-hunting birds, snatching prey in flight.
Governor Edwin Ongchuan, former congressman Emil Ong and Saludaga released back into the wild three Brahminy Kites in his private farm in this town.