Birding

Whistling Kites breeding

June 7, 2020 by Clare M 2 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the Black Kites breeding around Broome. There have also been Whistling Kites breeding around Broome in recent weeks. It was an overcast day again this last Wednesday and we went bush-walking where we have observed the Southern Boobooks recently. We have been keeping an eye on a Whistling Kite nest that is very high up in a tree. We don’t know how many eggs were originally laid due to the height of the nest. On our last visit we could see there was one rather large young Whistling Kite in the nest.

Whistling Kite nest high in the tree

This week the weather was cloudy and overcast when we went to the location and the juvenile Whistling Kite was finally out of the nest. It was just above the nest and it appeared to have some nest material on its lower breast feathers. The Whistling Kite is the same size as its parents now, but a more mottled pattern. Its parents were in the vicinity, but not really close by and it “whistled” out to them.

Juvenile Whistling Kite

The juvenile Whistling Kite is able to fly, but it has not quite got the landing procedure sorted out. Choosing a wide branch to land on was a good choice!

Whistling Kite calling to its parents

It is always rewarding to observe successful breeding in wildlife and we are fortunate here in Broome that so many bird species breed around the area.

Whistling Kites are widespread across Australia and around Broome they help clean up the carrion along with the Black Kites. There has been less carrion on the highway due to the travel restrictions we are experiencing due to Covid 19. The travel restrictions are slowly easing around Western Australia, but you are still not allowed to enter from any other state or from overseas.

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!