Be careful at Finch Central!! > Black SHouldered Kites

[MJ and ME <>]

G'day,
 
   I saw one BSK about three weeks ago just north of the RSPCA but since then there has been a lot more clearing work in that area as part of the Molonglo development. Only raptor I am seeing regularly now in that area is a Collared Sparrowhawk, usually along the river. I did not report the BSK as I was not under the impression that they are that rare in the ACT.
 
Michael Kingsford.
 

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Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:24:48 +1000
From:
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Be careful at Finch Central!! > Black SHouldered Kites

There used to be a single Black-shouldered kite that foraged opposite the RSPCA after the fires rendered that area a messy grassland.  Not sure if it is still around but there is certainly a lot of habitat destruction happening.

On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM, Julian Robinson <> wrote:

Peter said:

I saw a Black-shouldered Kite and a small mammal scurrying through the dead grass that I presumed was a mouse. I wondered why there hadn't been more reports of BSKs recently as I thought they would have bred up or moved into the area like the barn owl but then there have been plenty of mice elsewhere. Any ideas?

 

 

Maybe people don’t report Black-shouldered Kites as being interesting?   There were two in Cullum Brae last week, competing with Kestrels and a Goshawk.

 

 

Julian

 

 

From: martin butterfield [
Sent: 13 September 2011 21:28
To: Peter Ormay
Cc: COG List
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Be careful at Finch Central!!

 

Peter

You have caused me to note that I didn't record the time of the explosions I heard.  They started about 10:30 and probably went for about 30 minutes after which time I was either down in the valley and thus sheltered from the bangs or had left the area.

I have heard nothing from the Parks people yet - probably reflecting the fact that AFP are trying to work out how to put a spin on their reply and have not yet replied to the Parks people.

Martin

On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 7:07 PM, Peter Ormay <> wrote:

Hi all,

Thanks for the 'funny' Geoffrey

 

I went down to the Molonglo R through Kama NR between 2.00 and 4.00pm today and heard 6 to 8 loud bangs while I was down near the river. It sounded like someone setting off several sticks of Gelignite at a time. There were no warning sign, not even a red rag on the fence. I could have easily walked into the danger area. I didn't see any starshells but then I wasn't looking that way as I thought the explosions were much further away. 

 

I saw a Black-shouldered Kite and a small mammal scurrying through the dead grass that I presumed was a mouse. I wondered why there hadn't been more reports of BSKs recently as I thought they would have bred up or moved into the area like the barn owl but then there have been plenty of mice elsewhere. Any ideas?

Peter