Black Kites & Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos

4 posts / 0 new
Last post
Woko
Woko's picture
Black Kites & Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos

I was quietly minding my own business early this morning when I was sconned by what felt like a whack with a firm pillow. It turned out I had been warned off by a Black Kite, a pair of which is nesting in a Monterey Pine Pinus radiata, one of several I've left standing to provide food for Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos at least until indigenous tree & shrub species can take over that role. Fortunately, no damage was done but I have read of one report where blood was drawn from a human head by a Black Kite. I'll need to be extremely wary for a while when I'm out & about.

But this wasn't the end of the story. A couple of hours later my attention was drawn to a flock of 25 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos which was harassing a Black Kite near the aforesaid Monterey Pine. It's a competitive world, alright. 

It will be interesting to see if the Kites persist with their breeding or whether they abandon the nest. 

Watch this space.

Woko
Woko's picture

After some days of nil observations of both Black Kites & Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos this week sounds of Black Kites are coming from the pines again. In addition there have been several rabbit carcasses on the ground within about 50 meters of the pines but no sightings of Black Kites - &, fortunately, no repeat sconnings. 

Woko
Woko's picture

For about a week there have been no sights or sounds of Black Kites from the pines. I'm now seeing the kites about a kilometer or so away but there don't seem to be any young with them. It seems the pine tree nest has been abandoned. 

Alex Rogers
Alex Rogers's picture

Ah, thats a pity. I had a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets setting up nest in the (only) tree I can see from my apartment balconey - but they also seem to have decided against, as after a month of nest clearing and displaying etc, they seem to have moved on :-(

 and   @birdsinbackyards
                 Subscribe to me on YouTube