Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
The Black Kite – IELTS Reading – Multiple Choice
The Black Kite is a bird of prey commonly found throughout Australia. With its distinctive forked tail and soaring flight, it is a familiar sight in both urban and rural landscapes. This species is adaptable and thrives in a range of environments, including forests, woodlands, and coastal regions. The Black Kite is known for its scavenging habits. It is often seen soaring high above the ground, scanning for food. Its diet primarily consists of carrion, but it will also eat live prey – small animals and insects. The Black Kite plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping to clean up the environment by preventing the spread of disease from the dead animals they eat.
The female lays a clutch of 2-3 eggs, which both parents incubate. The chicks are altricial, meaning they are born helpless and require extensive care from their parents. After about 6 weeks, the young kites fledge, or leave the nest, but continue to rely on their parents for food for several more weeks. Breeding for the Black Kite typically occurs from September to January. Black Kites are highly social birds and often gather in large numbers. During the non-breeding season, they may form communal roosts, where hundreds of individuals come together in one location to rest. This social behaviour is thought to be a strategy for locating food and providing protection from predators.
Despite their adaptability, Black Kites face several threats. Habitat loss due to deforestation and urban development poses a significant risk. Additionally, they are vulnerable to poisoning from ingesting toxic substances and collisions with vehicles. Conservation efforts are ongoing to mitigate these threats and ensure the survival of this adaptable species.
Fires, both natural and human-induced, pose a significant challenge to Black Kites in Australia. These birds are particularly vulnerable during bushfire events, which can destroy their nesting sites and disrupt their food supply. Black Kites often build their nests in trees, and intense fires can lead to the loss of these critical breeding sites. Additionally, while Black Kites are capable of flying to escape immediate danger, the destruction of habitat can lead to a reduction in available food resources. This can make it difficult for them to find carrion and insects, which are crucial for their diet. In the aftermath of fires, Black Kites may struggle with increased competition for food and reduced opportunities for nesting. Conservation efforts are crucial in addressing these challenges by promoting fire management practices that help preserve the habitats essential for the survival of these adaptable birds.
Interestingly, Black Kites are known to engage in a behaviour that can inadvertently contribute to the spread of fires, although they do not start fires deliberately. This behaviour is linked to their scavenging habits and their interaction with bushfire-prone areas. They have been observed picking up burning sticks or embers from fire-affected areas and carrying them to other locations. This behaviour can contribute to the spread of fires. Black Kites do this as part of their natural behaviour to find food, perhaps to encourage live prey out of hiding. For instance, they may carry burning debris from a bushfire to areas where there is unburned vegetation, which can then ignite and cause new fires to start. This phenomenon is an example of how wildlife can interact with their environment in complex ways, sometimes leading to unintended consequences.
Questions:
1. What is the primary diet of the Black Kite in Australia?
a. Small mammals and reptiles
b. Fruits and insects
c. Carrion
d. Fish and amphibians
2. How do Black Kites contribute to the ecosystem?
a. By pollinating plants
b. By controlling insect populations
c. By preventing spread of disease
d. By dispersing seeds
3. When does the Black Kite’s breeding season typically occur?
a. February to April
b. March to May
c. June to August
d. September to January
4. What is a notable characteristic of Black Kites during the non-breeding season?
a. They migrate to warmer regions
b. They gather in large groups
c. They become solitary and elusive
d. They change their diet to primarily fruits
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a threat to Black Kites?
a. Hunting
b. Poisoning
c. Habitat loss
d. Traffic accidents
6. What phenomenon has been observed with regard to bushfires?
a. The Black Kite population numbers have been vastly reduced
b. Their search for food can make bush fires worse
c. Black Kites intentionally start fires
d. They relocate during bushfire season
Answers
1. C. Carrion – ‘Its diet primarily consists of carrion…’
2. C. By preventing spread of disease – ‘Black Kite plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by helping to clean up the environment by preventing the spread of disease from the dead animals they eat.’
3. D. September to January – ‘Breeding for the Black Kite typically occurs from September to January.’
4. B. They gather in large groups – ‘During the non-breeding season, they may form communal roosts, where hundreds of individuals come together in one location to rest.’
5. A. Hunting – ‘Habitat loss due to deforestation and urban development poses a significant risk. Additionally, they are vulnerable to poisoning from ingesting toxic substances and collisions with vehicles.’
6. B. Their search for food can make bush fires worse – ‘They have been observed picking up burning sticks or embers from fire-affected areas and carrying them to other locations. This behaviour can contribute to the spread of fires. Black Kites do this as part of their natural behaviour to find food, perhaps to encourage live prey out of hiding.’
