There is something romantic about the word Brahminy. It conjures up images of Eastern mystics: Brahmins, and their ascetic lifestyle. Anything described as Brahminy usually refers to the chestnut brown colour of the ceremonial robes worn by these mystics. Interestingly, in some Aboriginal cultures, Brahminy relates to the idea of messengers, being wild and free, and can portend wisdom.
There are a number of birds worldwide that have this adjective ascribed to them but only one of them is here in Australia, living and breeding year round, in Kurilpa. The Brahminy Kite species ranges widely from India all the way to Australia via the Malaysian peninsula, Indonesia, The Philippines, PNG and Micronesia. It always lives near water. It is considered sacred in much of Asia as it represents Garuda the bird of Vishnu as well as being important in Buddhist culture.
The Brahminy Kite is a raptor. A raptor uses its claws to catch its prey and its sharp curved bill to dissect and eat it. In this instance, the Brahminy Kite is mainly a scavenging fish eater as its claws are weak. The bird can often be seen trawling the waters around our peninsula for food. When it swoops in, it grabs fish, crabs and sometimes lizards, with its feet. It then proceeds to a nearby high perch to feed.
The male and female are medium sized birds. They have the same plumage: rusty brown uppers with a bright white head that helps them to avoid the glare of the sun and disappear into the sky. Their undersides are also white and their tail rusty brown with white tips. The younger birds are patchy brown all over and start to develop their characteristic colouring in the second year of their life.
A pair live and breed at Guyatt Park in a tall Eucalyptus facing the West End Ferry Terminal. To see the bird, listen for Noisy Miners announcing the Raptor’s arrival with panicked shrieks and trills. Watch for their soaring glide whenever near flowing water.
Bird Nerd
For further information: https://www.climatewatch.org.au/species/birds/brahminy-kite
Figure 1Photo credit: Pablo Silber, West End (2021)
