Abstract:
Roads, including high-speed corridors (HSCs), national highways (NH), and state highways (SH), particularly where they intersect with or are close to natural habitats, can pose a significant threat to wild fauna in general and avifauna in particular. Vehicular collisions pose a significant threat to wildlife, including birds of prey. This case study documents the mortality of a Black Kite (Milvus migrans Boddaert, 1783) due to a vehicular collision, triggered by the Kite’s attraction to chicken remnants discarded near a roadside chicken shop in Motihari, East Champaran, Bihar, India. Through field observations and ecological analysis, the study confirms the cause of death as traumatic injury from the vehicular impact and links the incident to anthropogenic discarded food sources. The findings highlight the ecological risks posed by improper waste disposal in roadside food establishments, especially meat shops, which attract wildlife and increase collision risks. This study emphasizes the importance of awareness, infrastructure planning and conservation efforts to mitigate bird-vehicle collisions and promote coexistence with wildlife. Documenting such behavior provides valuable insights into the natural history and effective management strategies of indigenous species in semi-urban and urban landscapes.