Kites

The White-tailed Kites of Lake Hodges Presentation by Robert Harrington Sponsored by San Deguito River Park September 17, 2011 © Robert Harrington 2011

Birds of Lake Hodges My personal observations Clark's Grebe Western Grebe Pied-billed Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Green Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Mallard American Wigeon Northern Shoveler Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier White-tailed Kite Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Bald Eagle Osprey Prairie Falcon American Kestrel California Quail American Coot Gull (various) Forster's Tern Mourning Dove Anna's Hummingbird Nuttall's Woodpecker Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Common Raven Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Bushtit Bewick's Wren House Wren Wrentit Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Western Bluebird Northern Mockingbird California Thrasher American Pipit Phainopepla Yellow-rumped Warbler Common Yellowthroat Black-headed Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak California Towhee Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Western Meadowlark Red-winged Blackbird Hooded Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

The White-tailed Kites of Lake Hodges In early 2011 a pair of White-tailed Kites established a nest in the vicinity of the Piedras Pintadas Trail and raised 4 young. In April they built another nest (No. 2) and raised 4 more. In July they built another nest (No. 3) and raised 2 more. Reference info: Monogomous pairs are formed in December

Both of pair help in building nest

Female incubates four eggs for 30-32 days

Male brings food during incubation

Young fly 30-35 days after hatching

Parents continue to feed young for approx. one month

Estimated Chronology White-tailed Kites of Lake Hodges, 2011

Brood no. 1 (2 of 4), April 12

Nest Tree No. 2 seen from Piedras Pintadas Trail

Male delivering food, April 22

Male delivering portion to nest, May 5

First venture from nest, June 3

First venture from nest, June 3: Looking for something to grab on to

First venture from nest, June 3: Getting lesson on the law of gravity

First venture from nest, June 3: Pulling up

First venture from nest, June 3: “ So what are you looking at?”

Juvenile pursuing parent with prey, June 8

Juvenile grabbing prey from parent, June 8

Two of four Juveniles in Brood 2, June 13

Juvenile swallowing gopher, June 13

Siblings fighting for dinner, June 13 Photo by Sharon Anthony

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (1)

Adult with material for Nest No. 3, June 24

Nest 3 in top of large oak tree, July 21

Adult delivering food to Nest 3, July 24

Adult delivering food to Nest 3, August 6

Kites

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Similar to Kites

Recently uploaded

Kites