Kites have been used for scientific purposes, such as Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment proving that lightning is electricity.

Kites have been developed for commercial applications using kite control systems, including the airborne wind energy systems of high altitude wind power.

Kites are mostly flown for recreational purposes, but have many other uses.

* Kites have long wings and relatively weak legs.

Many groups have expressed outrage at the practice of shipping prisoners across the country into a rural Appalachian community, most notably the Thousand Kites project.

Kites have also been seen to tear and carry away the nests of Baya Weavers in an attempt to obtain eggs or chicks.

In Dakar, birds have been observed mobbing passing Ospreys and Snake Eagles but avoiding Black Kites.

The Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus axillaris ) or Australian Black-shouldered Kite is a small raptor found in open habitat throughout Australia and resembles similar species found in Africa, Eurasia and North America, which have in the past also been named as Black-shouldered Kites.

Black-shouldered Kites are around 35 to 38 cm in length ( 13. 8 to 15 in ) and have a wingspan of between 80 and 95 cm ( 31. 5 to 37. 4 in ) and an average weight of 291 grams ( 10. 26 oz ).

Black-shouldered Kites have been observed in aerial combat at the margins of territories, locking talons in a behaviour described as " grappling ".

Black-shouldered Kites live almost exclusively on mice, and have become a specialist predator of house mice in Australia, often following outbreaks of mouse plagues in rural areas.

Though hovering is the most common hunting method, the Kites have been observed searching the ground beneath a vantage point for periods of up to an hour.

Black-shouldered Kites have been known to use old Australian Magpie, crow or raven nests.

Snail Kites have been observed eating other prey items in Florida, including crayfish in the genus Procambarus and Black Crappie.

Mississippi Kites have narrow, pointed wings and are graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air.

Breeding territory has expanded in recent years and Mississippi Kites have been regularly recorded in the southern New England states and a pair has successfully raised young as far north as Newmarket, New Hampshire.

Predation of nests of other pairs of Black Kites has also been noted.

File: Kites Shaft ( Disused )-geograph. org. uk-23513. jpg | Kites Shaft ( disused ), a typical old Cornish mine shaft ; it has been boxed and had new fittings round the top for public safety

Records of the last eight species had been considered only outside their " normal " British range ( e. g. Crested Tits outside Scotland, and Red Kites outside Wales ).

Skinner and Travers had been members of the band Kites with Paul McGrath and Ian McGreevy before Hipsway formed.

Kites were late to arrive in Europe, although windsock-like banners were known and used by the Romans.

Kites started to be used for scientific purposes, especially in meteorology, aeronautics, wireless communications and photography ; many different designs of man-lifting kite were developed as well as power kites.

Kites were also used by Admiral Yi of the Joseon Dynasty ( 1392-1910 ) of Korea.

Kites were also used for anti-aircraft target practice.

Kites and kytoons were used for lofting communications antenna.

Kites can be used for radio purposes, by kites carrying antennas for MF, LF or VLF-transmitters.

Kites can be used to carry light effects such as lightsticks or battery powered lights.

Kites can be used to pull people and vehicles downwind.

Kites are recorded in ancient Chinese history as being used for lifting men.

Kites were indeed used in Japanese warfare, but mostly for the purpose of sending messages and relaying signals.

Kites were used approximately 2, 800 years ago in China, where materials ideal for kite building were readily available.

Kites started to be used for scientific purposes, especially in meteorology, aeronautics, wireless communications and photography ; reliable manned kites were developed as well as power kites.

Kites used to fly a meteograph

C Kites are the oldest style of LEI used for traction kiting.

Kites may be flown for recreation, art or other practical uses.

Kites had a historical role in lifting scientific instruments to measure atmospheric conditions for weather forecasting.

Kites are available as an auxiliary sail or emergency spinnaker for sailing boats.

Alvíss attributes nine terms to the Vanir ; one for Earth (" The Ways "), Heaven (" The Weaver of Winds "), clouds (" Kites of the Wind "), calm (" The Hush of the Winds "), the sea (" The Wave "), fire (" Wildfire "), wood (" The Wand "), seed (" growth "), and ale (" The Foaming ").

A sighting of the first Red Kite to be seen in London for 150 years was reported in The Independent newspaper in January 2006 and in June of that year, the UK-based Northern Kites Project reported that kites had bred in the Derwent Valley in and around Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear for the first time since the re-introduction.

Black Kites are most often seen gliding and soaring on thermals as they search for food.

European occupation of Australia has, on the whole, benefited Black-shouldered Kites through land clearing and irrigation for agriculture and grain harvesting and storage practices which provide suitable conditions for much larger numbers of mice.