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Two chicks confirmed in the Whistling Kite nest off
Jerabomberra Creek. When I went there today as part of the Blitz I
saw not one but two chicks clearly visible, while both adult birds were perched
in that same dead tree some 50 metres away on the other side of the
channel. As an added interest I also discovered that in the
same general area the warring Wagtails and Magpie-larks of October 17 had nests
within a few metres of each other.
About 90 mins. after today's first viewing I
was paddling back down the creek proper one of the adult birds flew
directly overhead carrying what I suspected was food. I watched it
disappear down through the trees in the general direction of where I thought the
nest would be, so I decided to visit one more time and found both
youngsters standing upright in the nest. Did this indicate they had been
fed? I wasn't sure. One of the adults was perched in the dead tree
on the other side of the channel where I had seen them before, but there was no
sign of the second bird. On my final paddle along the far eastern
bank of Lake Burley Griffin I found the other bird perched low down on a large
dead log - a somewhat grisly sighting as the bloodied remnant of its
dinner with a quite large grey wing attached were clearly visible thru the
binoculars. While I was viewing I wasn't paying attention and drifted too
close, whereupon it decided to vacate the spot, rose about half a
metre then dropped back down to grab its meal before heading back towards
the channel. The wing put me in mind of a Wood Duck, but the Kite was
certainly not carrying the whole bird when it flew over me 20 minutes
previously. And I have no idea whether a Whistling Kite would predate on a
bird as big as a wood duck.
I'm not at all familiar with Australian White Ibis
breeding habits but they may be establishing a breeding colony in close
proximity to the abovementioned birds. They appeared to be tending several
untidy platforms of sticks/dead vegetation. About 40 birds
involved. About 20 Straw-necked Ibis and a pair of Royal Spoonbills in
breeding plumage also in the same immediate vicinity.
I also flushed what may have been a Spotless Crake
near the Tadorna Hide but I'm by no means certain - I only mention it for the
possible benefit of others birding in that area.
Cheers
Rod
Rod Mackay
Tel. 0407 456 330
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