Nesting activity by Black kites at pylons in Perumbakkam

Chennai has two categories of Black kites: a larger group heading to the city from the western parts of India during the south west monsoon and heading back when the monsoon is past; and another group, smaller and resident, which would make minor movements in and around Chennai looking for an optimal atmosphere for nesting and raising the young. A couple of pylons in Perumbakkam suggest that Black kites have found an ideal nesting space there

Grace has various facets to it, unhurried ease being among them. On the 22 yards, David Gower epitomised it, bringing a silken smoothness to strokeplay, even to slog-over pummeling. In the skies, the Black kite represents grace with its fluid glides, effortless change of direction. At the Marina, the Black kite flaunts its flying abilities. Even the crows that heckle them are impelled to mimick the Black kite’s flowing flight. Watch closely, you would catch a few members of Corvus splendens attempting glides, revealing an unconcious admiration for the Black kite’s flying skills.

When anyone has a hearth to defend, little ones to take care of, they can act out of character if the situation demands it. They would embrance effontery, abandoning grace, if that would keep their homestead chirping peacfully. 

On Perumbakkam Main Road, around two pylons by the side of a canal that begins a journey to Okkiyam maduvu, Black kites occasionally speed up their flight. They have nests to defend. These are Black kites whose calling cards indicate locations in Chennai unlike a vast section of Black kites that head to Chennai from western India escaping the South West monsoon, and return home when that monsoon is past. These black kites build nests and raise their young in Chennai. 

The images show a Black kite carrying what looks like a small stone to its nest on a pylon on Perumbakkam Main Road. Raptors are known to build nests that are rugged — to put it mildly — building them with material that hardly mesh with the notion of cushioning. In characteristic style, this Black kite nest has rusty metal wires and a range of other hard objects. This Black kite was doing hurried sorties around the pylon holding its nest before settling in adding the new piece — likely a stone — to the nest bed and then sitting squat on the nest, likely incubating eggs. Photos: Prince Frederick