Birds of prey are vulnerable on the ground. They can be attacked by other birds of prey and their kill hijacked. So when they make a kill they 'mantle'. This is where they open their wings and cloak the kill so it cannot be seen by other birds. Then they eat it as quickly as they can so they can get back to the safety of the air once again.
Here you see a trained Harris Hawk mantling his false 'bunny'. It is actually a lure used by the Falconer to train and exercise their birds. Each time the bird catches it they get a small amount of food in a 'fair exchange'.
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