Who are firehawk raptors and how can they make wildfires worse?

Apr 12, 2020, 12:46:25 PM IST

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Firehawk raptors

When Australia was burning earlier this year, authorities realised that not only do they have to deal with the ravaging wildfires but also some winged arsonists who were fanning the flames. Researchers confirmed what indigenous people have known for long — “firehawk raptors” can make bushfires worse.

Source: Australian Geographic, Science Alert

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Can raptors make wildfires worse?

Researchers say hundreds of these raptors come together along burning fire fronts, pick up smouldering sticks and drop them up to a km away to spread the flames. Why? To flush out prey via flames or smoke. Then the birds go on a feeding frenzy on the scorched land.