Square-tailed Kites Breeding in Northern Coastal New South Wales: Post-fledging Diet and Behaviour

Abstract

The diet and behaviour of a family of Square-tailed Kites 'Lophoictinia isura' were observed almost daily over the post-fledgling period (127 hours over 38 days) from early December 2002 to mid January 2003, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. The female parent died and the nest was damaged at the fledgling stage, but the male successfully reared the juvenile. The post-fledgling dependence period lasted 42 days, during which the male acquired a new mate that helped it provision the juvenile. The parental feeding rate in the post-fledgling period was 0.2 item/h (n = 28). The diet consisted of 66% birds (mostly nestlings/fledglings), 3% bird's egg, 3% mammal and 6% insects by number, 23% unidentified though probably bird nestlings (n = 35). Parental behaviour, and the juvenile's growth and development, are described.