Haliastur sphenurus

2 Whistling Kite at Acton, ACT

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Identification history

	Haliastur sphenurus	26 Jan 2020	natureguy
	Haliastur sphenurus	20 Jan 2020	BIrdsinCanberra

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User's notes

This Whistling Kite was in the trees on the north-east corner of the island when I first arrived. Initially it flew off to the north towards Acton. Fortunately, it returned soon afterwards, once again perching in the tree. These trees were also being used by some Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and some Australian Reed Warblers. The cuckoo-shrikes did not seem happy to share the tree with the kite and eventually drove it off. The island was littered with the carcasses of dead Silver Gulls (I have included a picture of one), many with wounds to their abdomens. I wonder if the kite was responsible for those wounds? A previous siting (4239630) in November 2019 on Canberra Nature Map mentioned a kite on this island keeping on eye on roosting gulls.

4 comments

natureguy wrote:

26 Jan 2020

Possibly also victims of recent hailstorm.

ArcherCallaway wrote:

27 Jan 2020

I thought the same initially but the sighting date was before the hail. Not sure what kite predation would look like on birds though.

natureguy wrote:

27 Jan 2020

In South Africa I once observed an eagle take out a guineafowl. It then plucked off some feathers and ripped the bird open. It only ate the organs and then left the carcass in the tree before flying off. This looks like what has happened here as there is a patch on the belly where feathers are absent (where the Kite has been feeding).
I have also seen a Sparrowhawk catch a Willie Wagtail at Jerrabomberra Wetlands (although that would have just been a snack).

BIrdsinCanberra wrote:

27 Jan 2020

Hi Ryu and Luke, Many thanks for the informative discussion. Yes, Ryu, was right, the sighting was before the hail storm and the island was littered with gulls in a similar state, although the young ones seemed untouched. I was thinking the young birds may have starved from having no adult birds to feed them? Once again, many thanks for the informative discussion. All the best, Jon

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