I went over to check on the Burke kites on Wednesday afternoon. Initially I
saw the two birds flying together in what was apparently courtship flight. I
later watched the female perched on a bare branch get fed three different
times, in a food exchange, by the male, which is clearly courtship behavior.
When the male came back for the fourth time he landed on top of the female and
there was mating/copulation behavior.
I went over there again this afternoon. This time the birds were flying
around and feeding for about 15 or 20 minutes. Then the female went and sat
on a different bare branch and was fed at least three times by the male, which
was followed by another episode of mating/copulation activity.
I was not able to find the nest reported by Tony Quezon this morning, but the
birds themselves were very active and easy to see.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
