Meet the Black Kite, or as I named it yesterday, “Son of a b**** almost bit me!” That’s right, today I’m getting real.
Another American woman chuckled and told me that’s the sea hawk, but after a little googling I learned it’s called the Black or Black-Eared Kite. It’s common in parts of Africa and Asia and very common in coastal Japan. Japanese call it the Tobi (in Kanto) or Tombi (in Kansai).
If you’ve ever had food taken out of your hand by a seagull (shout out to my Uncle Rex and the meat a seagull stole right out of the Subway sandwich he was holding), imagine that, except instead of a seagull the thief is a huge brown and black bird with a razor-sharp beak that circles you a few times to let you know you have nowhere to run and then swoops within an inch of your nose, sometimes doing a barrel role if it’s feeling showy.
These birds are breathtaking when you’re not their target. As large as a hawk (a big hawk) and deft as a kingfisher, they are a sight to admire.
But if you see this…
…stop admiring, grab your food and your small dog because they’re gonna eat it, and get the hell out of there.
The same woman who told me they’re called sea hawks also told me they like shiny things. She turns the diamond on her ring upside down to hide it from them. I told her if they wanted my ring they’d have to take my finger and she said, “Oh they will.”
I haven’t actually found any verification that they steal shiny things, but I’m turning my ring around just the same. I’m rather attached to that finger.
Recent Comments