Large Indian Parakeets Psittacula Eupatria (Linn.) harassing a Pariah Kite Milvus Migrans Govinda
There are many community roosting sites of Parakeets in Udaipur city, Rajasthan. In the morning, Parakeets fly away from the roosts towards the fields and orchards around Udaipur, returning to the city in small and big groups in the evening.
At 1750hrs on 25th September 1988, on the outskirts of Udaipur, we spotted a Pariah Kite slowly gliding towards the city. A group of 21 Large Indian Parakeets were flying a little higher than the Kite. They slowly dropped and encircled the Kite and started harassing it. The Kite twisted and tried every possible means to evade its harassment but failed.
We followed them slowly on our scooter. The Kite slowly lost the altitude and after going for about 500m in this fashion it perched on a Eucalyptus tree. The Parakeets followed suit. After 10 minutes the Kite flew off the tree and remained just at the treetop level with the Parakeets following. After flying about 100m in this manner they went out of sight.
Originally Published in Journal of Bombay Natural History Society:
Tehsin, R. H. & Tehsin A. (1990) Large Indian Parakeets (Psittacula eupatria) Harassing A Pariah Kite (Milvus migrans govinda). J. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. 87(3): 453