![]() ![]() The carnivorous birds are voracious scavengers. ![]() Eventually, veterinary hospitals from across Delhi started sending them black kites for treatment.īlack kites near Ghazipur garbage dump in New Delhi. “We got another bird and another bird,” says Shehzad. With the help of local veterinarians they gained skills. Read: Solving India’s deadly conflict between humans and elephantsĭespite initially lacking medical training, the former bodybuilders set up a clinic in a basement next to a small soap dispenser manufacturing operation. By 2003, with the problem becoming clear, the duo decided to intervene. ![]() The first injured bird they found, in the mid-90s, was turned away. But kites were not always able to receive treatment at bird hospitals, as some, due to religious stipulation, could not feed the carnivorous animal meat. Shehzad and Saud grew up in their Muslim neighborhood watching the faithful toss meat to swirling kites and other birds of prey, an act believed to eat away the sins of the feeder. Meat tossing, as depicted in "All That Breathes." Feeding birds of prey is believed by Muslim practioners in the city to eat away the sins of the feeder. Ahead of its release, they and director Shaunak Sen sat down for separate interviews with CNN to discuss its creation and their ongoing mission. Now the brothers have become the subject of “All That Breathes,” the first film to win top documentary prizes at both Sundance and Cannes film festivals. For over two decades, they have worked to repair the damage done to the black kite, one creature at a time. That door, below a sign that reads “Wildlife Rescue,” belongs to Shehzad and his brother Mohammad Saud. But the thread can also cause grievous damage to birds.Ī city-wide problem ultimately arrives at one door. Flying paper kites is a popular pastime in the city and many participants traditionally use sharp thread and attempt to cut the lines of each other’s kites. The main culprit is another type of kite - one made of paper and thread rather than flesh and bones, says Shehzad. But human activity is causing significant harm to the raptor, with evidence strewn across streets and rooftops. Today there are possibly more than 100,000 kites, estimates environmentalist Nadeem Shehzad. Its numbers have grown in recent decades, buoyed by abundant waste from the city’s booming meat processing industry and mounting rubbish at the vast Ghazipur landfill. Nowhere in the world is the black kite, a medium-size bird of prey from the hawk family, found in such high concentrations. Thanks to conservation efforts, recent counts place the number at almost 1000.īoth the Swallow-tailed Kite and the less common White-tailed Kite are sensitive to habitat changes, but little is known about either bird.Every day, birds fall from Delhi’s polluted skies. As a result of draining the Everglades, altered water levels in Lake Okeechobee, and dredging the Kissimmee River Basin, plus the introduction of exotic aquatic plants, runoff from agricultural lands, and recreational use of wetlands, the Snail Kite's population in Florida had been reduced to 20 in 1964. It must move around as it feeds almost exclusively on freshwater Apple Snails, which it hunts by flying low over the relatively shallow, clear water. The endangered Snail Kite, formerly known as the Everglades Kite, is found in local areas of central and south Florida. Kites inhabit wooded areas and nest in tall trees, often pines and cypress. Short-tailed Hawks nest in treetops in wooded areas near water and in cypress swamps. They build nests in tall deciduous trees. Red-tailed Hawks may be found in woodlands, open areas, and groves. After raising the young, they may use the nest as a feeding platform. Nests are built in tall deciduous trees and often reused. ![]() Red-shouldered Hawks inhabit swamps and woodlands. They usually soar at high altitudes in search of prey.īroad-winged Hawks inhabit wooded areas often near water. Cooper's Hawks usually nest in tall deciduous trees. They are agile, woodland hawks that may hunt at bird feeders. They build nests on the ground or in thickets.Ĭooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks are accipiters. Northern Harriers, also called Marsh Hawks, inhabit wetlands and fields. Golden Eagles are occasional visitors to Florida in nonsummer months. After breeding, in late May or June, most migrate north and return in August. There are now more than 3000 Bald Eagles in Florida.Įagles build huge nests in tall trees and often return to the same nest year after year. Thanks to conservation measures, the population is increasing. As a result of habitat loss and poisoning by pesticides and heavy metals, there were less than 3000 Bald Eagles in the continental U.S. In 1782, the Bald Eagle was chosen as the national emblem, beating out the Wild Turkey by one vote. Photographs on this page courtesy of SFWMD ![]()
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