The breeding cycle of a pair of Brahminy Kites 'Haliastur indus' in New South Wales

Abstract

The breeding cycle of a pair of Brahminy Kites 'Haliastur indus' was observed at Port Macquarie, northern coastal New South Wales, by keeping a diary of events from nest-building to independence of the juvenile, from late winter to summer 2012. Nest-building lasted a month, the incubation period ~35 days, the nestling period 52 days, and the post-fledging dependence period ~7 weeks. Adult behaviour, sex-roles, and growth and development of the juvenile are described. The observed breeding diet consisted mostly of fish, although freshwater turtle and crab remains were observed accumulated under the pair's feeding tree. Further breeding attempts by the pair in 2013 (one fledgling) and 2014 (two failures) resulted in 0.67 young per year and 0.5 young per attempt over 3 years.