Pellets from Tuas: 6. Nesting of Black-shouldered Kites

on 25th March 2015

The nest of the Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is loosely constructed of twigs placed around the forks of branches high up in the tree. The first chick was seen in the nest on 17th January 2015, the day observations started. Based on this and the reported incubation period of 30-33 days, the egg was most probably laid sometime in mid-December 2014.

The second chick was seen the next day (above), the third three days later (below)…

…and the fourth chick four days after that (below).

By early February, the nest was overcrowded, what with four chicks in it. The oldest, nearly a month old, was seen perching at the edge of the nest, sometimes moving onto one of the branches that support the nest for a short period before hopping back in.

By this time the adults were not seen in the nest except feeding times. At least one adult was always perching on a branch or tree nearby to keep an eye on the chicks. A pair of House Crows (Corvus splendens) and a Brahimy Kite (Haliastur indus) were around, ever ready to raid the nest LINK.

The two older chicks fledged on 13th February (above, below). The third chick fledged a day later, followed by the fourth the next day. Based on this and the reported fledging period of 30-35 days, we are correct in estimating the time of first egg laying to be around mid-December 2014.

Chan Yoke Meng & Melinda Chan
Singapore
March 2015

References:
Thiollay, J. M., 1994. Family Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 2. New world vultures to guineafowl. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 52-205.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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