I’m not an expert, just living in a country that has lots of bushfires, Australia.
Fire spreads in all manner of ways. Embers can be picked up by the wind and transported kilometres away from the firefront. Birds can pick up embers and drop them away from the fire. Burning materials can get stuck underneath a vehicle, or fire can race against the wind up a hill.
Something to keep in mind is that fire is a chemical reaction that needs fuel, oxygen and heat.
Some birds like use smoke as a way to fumigate their feathers, so will pick up embers and take them somewhere, as this is safer than standing next to a fire.
I’m not an expert, just living in a country that has lots of bushfires, Australia.
Fire spreads in all manner of ways. Embers can be picked up by the wind and transported kilometres away from the firefront. Birds can pick up embers and drop them away from the fire. Burning materials can get stuck underneath a vehicle, or fire can race against the wind up a hill.
Something to keep in mind is that fire is a chemical reaction that needs fuel, oxygen and heat.
Is this common?
They also deliberately use fire to smoke out prey. The phenomenon calls them “Australian Firehawks”.
Some birds like use smoke as a way to fumigate their feathers, so will pick up embers and take them somewhere, as this is safer than standing next to a fire.
As I understand it, in Australia it’s not uncommon. I don’t know if it happens elsewhere.