In the NT and WA there seems to be continual burn offs happening at this time of year. Apparently the owners or guardians of the properties light some of the fires by helicopter drops and then allow the wind to blow the fire towards a physical structure that will stop its spread - in this case it was the highway we were travelling on.
It was confronting to drive into the smoke and skirt the fire, but interesting to see the Black Kites making a feast of the small animals escaping.
The Black Kites are also know as the Fire Birds. They have been credited with learning that fires = food and that a smoldering stick can be picked up at one end and dropped onto the grass on the other side of the road, thus allowing the feast to continue!!
Everywhere at the moment. With a predicted dry season coming controlled burns are happening in more southerly areas, too. Smoky hazy days in Melbourne atm
We had a fire near us a few years back that was supposed to be controlled- but it got away from them and did some real damage. I understand the concept of these but I find them really scary!
