I have seen a male B Goshawk repeatedly taking flying cicadas and eating them on the wing, the wing-cases and discarded hard parts drifting away as the breeze takes them. That reminds me that we have not had in recent years a heavy cicada emergence with those deafening stridulations and flying insects everywhere, and others swarming over the foliage. I assume our cicadas do not have an in-built periodicity like those hordes in North America and the numbers emerging depend on conditions. If so, the general lushness at the present time suggests we might be in for a big cicada spring in a few weeks.
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Monday, 9 September 2013 6:16 PM
To: 'kym bradley';
Subject: [canberrabirds] Kestrel Query and Spring Time at Jerra Wetlands
I have not looked at the photos (not needed) but about your question. Not really commonly seen, then again it is easy to miss. Usually happens for small prey like insects. I have seen it often enough to believe it is a regular method for Kestrels, Brown Falcons, Black Falcons, Hobbies, Black-shouldered Kites, Black Kites (and no doubt other raptors do so too). When I have seen this feeding like this it is on swarms of high flying insects (in that case it would be a waste of energy to return to a perch for each one. (Also bits of carrion for the Black Kites and for the BsK a mouse). There is film of larger raptors feeding on bats in flight.
-----Original Message-----
From: kym bradley
Sent: Monday, 9 September 2013 1:14 PM
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: [canberrabirds] Kestrel Query and Spring Time at Jerra Wetlands
Over the last 2 years I have seen many Australian Kestrels, One yesterday drew my attention I have Never seen one eat whilst in the air, is this common he did it three times, down up and eat, I normally see them go to a log, line etc
Not the best to far away but you can make it out
