h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Seeming to hang motionless in the air makes them reasonable facsimiles of kites. Or were manmade kites named after the birds?

Also, I'm glad to hear that they go where rodents are plentiful. I would love to had them in my house about a month ago, when I was overrun by mice .

"When not hovering, black kites fly with a light, buoyant and fast action, somewhat reminiscent of seagulls."

Brilliant description

Excellent, and fascinating entry.

Yes, that is fascinating - very interesting about the pros and cons of the different hunting techniques I've seen a red kite in action, and it is amazing to see how it hovers in the air before plunging down to make a catch. Good to know black shouldered kites are not threatened at present.

How tasty are they?

Hi folks, glad y'all like the entry! Bobstafford actually there's a typo in that description! It should have been black-shouldered kite, not black kite ... we get black kites here too, they're much larger and not particularly seagull-like in their flight! Sashaq, I'm happy to hear the red kites over there can hover as well!

Paulh, I've put that question to the kites, and they in turn asked, how tasty is Paulh? I'd suggest from now on you keep an eye on the sky!

Fixed typo, btw.

Thanks Dmitri!

Oh - it seems kites the playthings were actually named after kites the birds. Birds well-known under that name (which apparently have something to do with the sound of their calls) in sixteenth century (Shakespeare names them) while the kites that we fly are first called that in, if I'm not mistaken, the seventeenth century.

" how tasty is Paulh? I'd suggest from now on you keep an eye on the sky" [Willem]

Touche!

I've tried to find out whether any kites ever visit Massachusetts. The only ones that even come close are swallowtailed kites, which breed in the Southeastern U.S.

Here is what Audubon says about the Swallowtail Kite:

"Our most beautiful bird of prey, striking in its shape, its pattern, and its extraordinarily graceful flight. Hanging motionless in the air, swooping and gliding, rolling upside down and then zooming high in the air with scarcely a motion of its wings, the Swallow-tailed Kite is a joy to watch. At one time it was common in summer over much of the southeast, but today it is found mostly in Florida and a few other areas of the deep south."

So, I plan to avoid Florida.