My Take: Dicing with death

WHEN it comes to the yellow billed kite, I can’t quite decide if it’s mind-blowingly brave, recklessly stupid or just a bit of a daredevil showoff.

Perhaps it’s none of the above and rather that these scavengers have a taste for roadkill that will not be denied.

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The other day I was driving on the highway between Scottburgh and Port Shepstone when I witnessed one of these birds produce some acrobatic feats of the highest order.

There was, sadly, a horribly mangled dead dog on the side of the road.

Part of the dog was in the road, but only just.

The bird swooped down, seemingly oblivious to the cars swooshing by at 120km/h.

It either enjoys the thrill of danger, or just doesn’t realise that there is danger.

The beautiful brown bird disappeared momentarily between two cars and picked up a hunk of meat.

Then it spiked instantly upwards in a gravity defying manner.

It was gloriously and astonishingly brave, or stupid.

I expected to see a puff of feathers as it misjudged its dive and got taken out.

I wondered why it didn’t just wait until there was a gap in the traffic and then flap down and enjoy a leisurely meal.

But then perhaps, there’s no thrill or fun in that.

It got me thinking about the behaviour of humankind and some of the unbelievably dumb things we do in the name of the thrill seek.

Utterances starting with ‘here, hold my beer’ usually end up with someone in the casualty ward at the local hospital.

Watching this bird at work also served as a reminder that food is a great motivator.

After all, it’s a basic need, right up there with breathing.

A lack of food, for some, can cause them to do dangerous and illegal things.

It’s an interesting thought: how much crime would there be if no one ever went hungry?

HAVE YOUR SAY

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