Observations on the Post-Fledging Period of the Collared Sparrowhawk ('Accipiter Cirrocephalus')

Abstract

Observations on the post-fledging period of a brood of Collared Sparrowhawks ('Accipiter cirrocephalus') were conducted for 64 hrs over 20 days in suburban Bundaberg, coastal eastern Queensland, from the juveniles' estimated third week post-fledging until they became independent and dispersed (at about 6 weeks after fledging). During this time the juveniles interacted aerially, took food from the parent in flight or caught dropped prey in mid-air, chased various birds (including large species they could not possibly catch), and caught cicadas. The parental food-delivery rate averaged 0.38 item/hr; it declined from 0.43/hr in week 4 and 0.39/hr in week 5, to 0.23/hr in week 6, with two deliveries in the latter stage not collected by a juvenile.