![]() ![]() My study on the species found diet (prey items) to consist of 61.7% reptiles, 8.6% birds, 8.6% crustaceans, 6.9% fish, 5.6% amphibians, 4.8% mammals and 3.8% insects. Like the other kites the Brahminy supplements its diet by scavenging, with dead and dying fish and crustaceans plucked from the intertidal zone, as well as meat cuts from urban refuse areas (I once observed an individual clutching a fried chicken drumstick). ![]() Effortlessly gliding above the treetops making a soothing ‘pe-ah-ah’ call, their spectacular chestnut and white plumage making them a more eye-catching sight than their duller-looking relatives, the Black and Whistling Kites ( Milvus migrans and Haliastur sphenurus). The Brahminy Kite is a pleasantly common sight throughout along the Top End coast, as well as the Darwin suburbs. I had known Brahminy Kites to frequent this area but it wasn’t until I went walking along the waterfront one evening that I finally located the nesting location for this pair. I had managed to overlook one nesting site, largely because it didn’t occur in a tree, rather a man-made light pole located close to Stokes Hill Wharf. These regal birds used a variety of nest trees around Darwin, including African Mahoganies ( Khaya senegalensis), Pornupan Mangrove ( Sonneratia alba), Poinciana ( Delonix regia) Coastal She-oak ( Casuarina equisetifolia), Raintree ( Samanea saman) and Milkwood ( Alstonia actinophyla). However, looking at its majestic beauty – especially when it spreads its wings to fly – I can only agree with the choice.Whilst studying Brahminy Kites during 2015 – 2016 in Darwin I managed to find a total of 13 breeding territories. I don’t know what makes this bird becomes some sort of ‘the chosen one’ out of the hundreds birds of the forests. The baby floated into the sky, crying and transformed into Kaa’nang (the local name for the bird), its necklace becoming the bird’s feathers. It tells a story how a mother left her baby under a banana tree while she was busy gardening. In India, it is thought to be the modern presentation of Garuda, the sacred bird of Vishnu.īougainville island, Papua New Guinea, has a fable about Brahminy Kite. In his Indonesian name – Elang Bondol – Brahminy Kite represents the official mascot of Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. And ‘Kawi’ refers to an ochre-like stone used to decorate pottery, and a reference to the bird primary plumage color. Lang is the short form of ‘Helang’ which means eagle. In West Malaysia, Langkawi island is said to be named after the bird. Singalang Burong is the ultimate deity of incomparable qualities and superior abilities. In Sarawak, Malaysia, for the Ibans of the Upper Rajang – one of the indigenous groups in Sarawak – Brahminy Kite is the form Singalang Burong takes every time he comes down to the land. It is quite a popular bird in the sense that it keeps appearing in cultural settings of the different cultural groups where it can be found. It mainly stays in coastal areas, especially mangroves forests although sometimes it can be spotted inland and on big rivers. Both pieces of cloth were not successful in fully covering his long tanned limbs.”īrahminy Kite is an eagle that can be found across South East Asia to Australia. He wore a jacket made of light brown bird feathers for his top and similar color of sirat, a woven loincloth. ![]() His long beard covered his front chest in a rectangle shape. The eyes that often made Keling feel uncomfortable whenever they scrutinized him as if they could spot his inner-most secrets something that Singalang Burong actually could not do. His thick and long eyebrows framed his deep and sharp eagle-like eyes. He let his long straight hair fell to cover his ears and it rested below his shoulder blades. Singalang Burong’s head was covered with pure white hair. “…Right in the middle, directly facing the middle door, sat the Head of the longhouse, Singalang Burong, the coordinator of the whole world and its living beings, who took the form of a Brahminy Kite whenever he came down to the land.Įven in his own image, his appearance didn’t differ much from an eagle. ![]()
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