These Clever Birds Are STARTING FIRES!

Birds of prey have been spotted picking up burning twigs and using them to smoke out mice, frogs and other small creatures.

No other animal has ever been seen deliberately starting fires (except us humans). 

Should we be worried that these birds are basically evolving to take over the world!?

Black Kites and Brown Falcons have been seen swooping down to pick up burning twigs before flying to another area to start a bushfire.

They then use the fire to capture smaller animals and large insects as they flee.

Bush fires have been previously thought to be caused by man or lightning strikes. Birds are now being considered a ‘third force’ by researchers studying the phenomenon.

Brown falcon bird of prey (Picture: Alamy)

Aborigines and firefighters both said they had witnessed the birds starting the fires as well as 14 separate bush rangers who had seen birds carrying burning sticks.

‘Reptiles, frogs and insects rush out from the fire, and there are birds that wait in front, right at the foot of the fire, waiting to catch them.

‘Small fires often attract so many birds that there is insufficient fleeing prey for all, so a bird that was being beaten to its food might benefit from starting a new fire with less competition’ Said Bob Gosford, a lawyer who works with indigenous people and is studying fires caused by the birds with scientist Mark Bonta.