Tianfu Nature 丨 Aegis on the Grassland (September 23, 2022)

Kawaguan News reporter Wang Daqiang

The eyes are sharp, the beak is sharp, standing on the stone, not angry. On the prairie in northwestern Sichuan, occasionally you can meet this kind of raptor -grassland carving.

The grassland carving is a large bird. The female body is larger than the male bird, with a body length of more than 80 cm and a wing show of 160-200 cm. When they soar their wings, they are proud of the sky, showing their majesty, which can be described as overlords in the air.

The feathers carved by the grassland are mainly brown. They like to live in open plains, grasslands, wastelands, etc., and they usually move alone during the day. Their predation method is very direct, and they will "keep the rabbit" at the door of the prey. The predation time is also very regular. It is about 7 to 10 in the morning and in the evening. It mainly eats rats, lizards, hare, snakes, small birds, etc., and sometimes eat animal corpses and carrion.

The grassland carving will build the nest on the ground, earth, and dried grass piles. Some dead branches, grass, grass leaves, wool, and feathers are the main materials for nesting.

From April to June each year is the reproduction period of grassland carving. The female bird will produce about 1-3 eggs each. After the female birds are spawning, they are incubated by female birds and male birds, and the brooding is also borne by female birds and male birds.