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        Special Topics 特別主題 >> Black-eared Kite 鳶(麻鷹) >>  Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
        
(Message started by: Andrew on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 6:00pm)

Title: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by Andrew on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 6:00pm

I climbed Tai Leng Tung this afternoon. Kites regularly sit on the outcrops here. On my way down I saw a single kite perched on a rock. As I watched a second kite flew in, appeared to mount the first bird, which leaned forward, there was brief activity and the second kite left almost immediately. The whole act lasted less than a minute. Is this typical of kites copulating?

As a bonus there was a wonderful adult male Peregrine up by the trig point. After a few minutes it flew across the valley and landed on another rock and was still there when I started to descend.

Other birds see were Long-tailed shrike, Fork-tailed sunbird, House swift, Barn swallow and Chinese bulbul. Not much variety but a lovely walk.

Title: Re: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by 鳥友Ａ(BWA) on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 6:30pm

on 02/22/06 at 18:00:15, Andrew wrote:

... a second kite flew in, appeared to mount the first bird, which leaned forward, there was brief activity and the second kite left almost immediately. The whole act lasted less than a minute. Is this typical of kites copulating?

Does "less than a minute" refer to the duration of mounting, or does it include the whole process from the female leaning forward to the male leaving?

I believe I saw similar behaviour between the two Black Kites in my Magpie Story three times recently. They all happened early in the morning, probably when the two birds first met in the day. The female adopted a horizontal posture (in contrast to the upright one when Kites normally perch) as if to invite the male to mount her. The male landed on her back briefly for about 1 second, flew off and then perched nearby.

I suspect it is a greeting ritual between a bonded pair rather than true copulation.

Title: Re: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by Andrew on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 8:08pm

Interesting. The mounting was probably about 20 seconds max but certainly more than 1 second. I hadn't seen this behaviour before but pair-bonding seems a reasonable explanation.

Thanks very much

Andrew

Title: Re: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by 鳥友Ａ(BWA) on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 9:34pm

Well, in that case perhaps what you saw was different - it could have been the real thing! :)

Title: Re: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by kumanfai on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 10:32pm

From what I saw in the The Life of Bird video, the real copulation could take just one second. So it could be the real thing. ;)

Title: Re: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by 鳥友Ａ(BWA) on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 12:04am

22/2/06
Taken this morning
今天早上拍的

Mrs. Kite was perching upright
麻鷹太太本來是直立的
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/bwa/2006%20Magpie/060222%20DSCN3096.jpg

Suddenly she leaned forward, as if expecting her mate.
忽然改變成橫立，似是迎接配偶
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/bwa/2006%20Magpie/060222%20DSCN3098.jpg

Caught in the act!
來了！
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/bwa/2006%20Magpie/060222%20DSCN3099.jpg

1 to 2 seconds later.
一、兩秒之後
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/PhotoG/bwa/2006%20Magpie/060222%20DSCN3100.jpg

Title: Re: Kites at Clearwater Bay Country Park
Post by Andrew on Feb 23^rd, 2006, 1:34pm

Hardly worth the effort?