Little Visits: Out of the Box

Posted in Black-shouldered KiteTagged

For those who follow my Saturday Evening Post, and #75, last weekend, in particular, here is the next installment.

We had guessed the young kites would be on the wing over the weekend, and so decided that Tuesday would have the best morning light, and we were gearing up to go first thing.
On Monday, on the way back from a shopping trip—essential groceries only-of course— the ABC radio informed us as of 11:59pm today (Monday), everyone would be required to stay at home and a $1602 fine would be imposed. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shane Patton, said there were no exceptions and police leniency would be minimal.
I looked at the four allowed activities, and couldn’t see; “Ok to go and photograph Black-shouldered Kite fledglings” anywhere.

I suppose I might have rationalised that a ‘walk’ for health reasons, might get by, but no leniency is a bit ominous.
I also pondered Scomo’s definition of “Essential” the previous night and how the good lady wife, Jenny, had gone out and bought the stay-at-home-kids, jigsaw puzzles, considered by the pm as “essential” to keep said offspring amused while at home.
But again I pondered trying to argue such a case with a uniformed officer writing my ticket as I spoke.

So we bolted home, skipped lunch, and grabbed the photo gear and as the Banjo says, “Went”.

We were much later than we’d like to be, feeding the young happens early, and then everyone in good Black-shouldered Kite practice settles down to snooze until later in the afternoon, when it’s time to trip down the road for the male, to bring in fresh supplies.

The young had indeed fledged, and one flew over us almost immediately and landed at the top of the a nearby pine tree, and stayed there the next couple of hours.  I concluded later, that it was the one that had recently been fed, and its sibling was still waiting for “Couch Potato” to stretch his wings and bring in another mouse. The giveaway was the continual “sraaarcking” call.  In the meantime it amused itself by climbing through the branches of the trees and jumping from one tree to another.
Eventually it ended up on the same tree as the other one.

Then “Ubereats” turned up with a mouse, and it was finally able to get its meal.

Unless the ban is lifted in the next week or so, I guess this is the last of the series we’ll be able to enjoy.

A shout out to the female in this case, as she has bought this clutch through some of the worst weather, driving rain, hail, strong winds and freezing cold days. All from high atop her open penthouse. Little tiny featherless young in wet stormy weather must be hard to protect.

Remain

At first a bit hard to find through the trees as there was no real access.
The rich golden colours show up so well
The second one turns up scrambling through the branches
Perfect little birds
And a comparison of front and side colouring
“I can do a wing stretch”
“Mine’s better”
Look, look, its Ubereats delivery
“Who’s been a good bird then?”
Dropping into the nest area for the young one to come and collect
“Hey, that one has my name on it.” What is interesting is they do not squabble over who’s turn it is. Well at least not yet.
Let me show you my cute little tail. See its still got the brown edging.

9 thoughts on “Little Visits: Out of the Box”

  1. A fabulous series of images, David. Great that you were able to see them before the restrictions tightened right up. Hopefully we will be able to wander around a bit more freely soon. It is hard to say whether constabule plod would accept birding as walking for exercise/health or not. Best to be safe than pay the fine! My tracker shows me doing a 4-5 km walk most days and I think I would be okay to wander to Glen Orden (preferred as I don’t have to follow any roads) or Sneydes. But no one can give me a definitive answer! Stay well.

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    1. G,day, was pretty happy with the late morning light, it did go ordinary in the afternoon. The little dudes don’t know much about flight, so they’ll sit for the next week or so, then it would have gotten interesting. Also with Daylight Saving ending, it will change the lighting a bit, we’ll lose the wonderful low angle light first thing.
      Bit of an academic discussion. 🙂
      I had pondered a walk to Glen Orden, about 30 minutes, I can do the backstreets, but there seems a limited amount there the other day when I went by.
      Can I drive to Hoppers to shop? And then Synedes on the way home. No one seems to have a definitive answer to that. The only ‘official’ answer I’ve received is, “Stay home, means.. Stay Home.”
      I did see where it is in place legislated from 31 March to 14 April. Then it will either be lifted, or extended.
      Wait.

      Remain

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  2. What a wonderful series of shots. Such a joy to be able to watch them, and you will miss that keenly. Let’s hope we aren’t under lock and key for too long. My excuse is walking the dog and just happening to have the camera slung round me.

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    1. Hmmm Gotta get me a dog! As above, the legislation is from 31 March to 14 April, then to be reviewed.
      The grim reality is that any real change to the numbers won’t show up for at least a fortnight. Then if this latest round of ‘isolation’ isn’t making an impact, things will I presume get tougher.

      I can’t get a direct answer of can I go to a ‘local’ park for exercise, and have to drive to get there. The response, is “Stay Home”. No discussion is entered into. Bit like playing Monopoly. Go to jail, go directly. 🙂
      Remain

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  4. Beautiful captures David, so wonderful you were able to catch this last opportunity. Some very special shots of the youngsters and especially the parent landing with the mouse. Though I wonder how far a mouse will go to feed these two hungry youngsters.

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    1. Hello Ashley,
      We’ve been working with the pair since August last year and its more a shame of timing, that at the peak of it all, we lose the opportunity. Its just a bit to far to travel under the current regulations, and I’d not want to get sprung over a few photos. Another time another season perhaps for us.
      Depending on the family, the male does all the hunting.
      He is feeding the two young, Mum, and himself, so he should be pretty busy. This male is very casual, and seems to bring in an early feed, a top up mid afteroon and perhaps another by sunset.
      His previous clutch used to get very aggressive with him as they grew older, and perhaps that was his strategy to get them out and looking after themselves.
      He quickly moved them on, and she began another nesting cycle.
      It seems to vary from pair to pair. Two seasons back we had a pair that managed four young in a single clutch. The male was exhausted by the end of the cycle. 🙂

      Hopefully we might be able to catch them if the present 14 day ban runs its course.

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