Dumping of waste and sewage into the Ramchandrapur canal goes on unchecked in the capital’s Adabor. A makeshift bridge is the only crossing over the water body for the locals. The photo was taken yesterday. Photo: Rashed Shumon
KINGS OF THE SKY … With talons neatly tucked in, a black kite soars above the cricketing grounds in the capital’s Mirpur. Black kites, known as “cheel” in Bangla, are one of the most commonly sighted birds in the country. The medium-sized diurnal birds of prey can be found on almost every continent, with the current global population estimated at six million individuals. Opportunistic hunters and scavengers, they are known to be attracted to fires and smoke, where they can find escaping prey such as other birds, rodents, bats, etc. It is believed that kites sometimes even help spread fire by dropping burning twigs to flush out potential prey! With large numbers across South Asia, these birds have evolved and become accustomed to living in bustling cities. With wingspans ranging from 120-155cm, watching black kites glide across the sky for hours is quite the visual treat.
Photo: Firoz Ahmed
