Beautiful birds of prey (Photo Feature)

The kite eagle, also known as the black kite, can be found in Kathmandu, Nepal. These birds are quite common in urban areas and can often be seen soaring through the skies or perched on top of buildings and trees. They are opportunistic feeders and are known to scavenge for food in urban environments. The black kite is a common raptor found in many parts of the world.

This week, I went west of Swayambhunath temple where I came across a restaurant called Moon Rock. The restaurant is run by Tsering Gyalpo Lama and he owns the land it’s built on. The restaurant has gained popularity in the past couple of months as it offers an amazing panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley.

Every day, Lama feeds many eagles. He tosses meat treats in the air, standing on his restaurant’s rooftop. He does this between three to five in the afternoon, and with such regularity that the birds have come to anticipate it. The meat he feeds the birds is usually leftovers from the restaurant.

The eagles consume about five kilos of raw meat each day, he says, adding he noticed that the birds of prey seem to prefer chicken meat. “They can catch it while flying and eat on flight too,” says Lama, the wonder evident in his voice.

Lama is fascinated by eagles and hopes to have one as a pet someday. He is planning to rename the restaurant. He wants to call it the Eagle Feeding Restaurant so that people know what to expect when they go there. Currently, he lets those who want to feed the birds do so at no extra cost.

During my visit to the restaurant, I could hear screeches of baby eagles asking for food as they were flying above our heads. After Lama fed them, they took flight towards Swayambhunath temple and eventually headed into Kathmandu Valley. Complete with breathtaking views of the valley, it made for a fascinating scene and experience.