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This year a new nest of black kite (Milvus migrans) has been found in the LVM Mid-Daugava region. Black kite is a rare species in Latvia and in the last years only 10 nests of this species were known. The new-found nest this year has been successful – two chicks were in the nest.

Black kite usually nests in small forest clusters close to various size water reservoirs – on lake isles or demi-islands. Nest is built in different trees, 8 to 15 metres above ground.

“It is interesting that in comparison to other raptor bird species, kites decorate their nest with various rubbish – fabrics, papers, plastic bags. Kites are scavenges – they collect dead animals and decorate their nests with rubbish, just because they think that it is beautiful. They collect rubbish close to their nesting grounds – on the banks of lakes and rivers, on roadsides. Frequently fly to dumpsites with a special aim to get some decoration or food,” explains Aigars Kalvāns, LVM environmental expert.

Black kites search for food in a low and slow glide, sometimes also goes on foot. It uses a wide range of food, mainly animals ­ – fish, hunts also for small mammals (voles, mice), birds, reptiles and amphibians, also insects.

Black kites are migrating birds. They go on their wintering places in Africa and Middle East at the end of September. They return to nesting places in the middle of April.