Angola: Falcons Feasting on Flying Termites

This is probably a once in a lifetime wildlife experience – and we got super super lucky to witness something like this – thousands of falcons feeding on emerging flying termites in a spectacular swarm event. These are Lanner Falcons (Falco biarmicus), native to sub-Saharan Africa, including Angola, and are known to have learned to feed on the termite swarm events, pretty much demolishing all the outcoming termites. We were right in the middle of the swarm! Lanner falcons are pursuit hunters – unlike Peregrine falcons, which dive from great heights, Lanners chase prey in level flight, often working cooperatively in family groups. Their flight is distinct — fast and direct, often with a few rapid wingbeats followed by a glide. During the termite swarm events, Lanner falcons swoop low, picking off the insects in midair, eating in flight, and then swooping back for more until the swarms are exhausted.