The White-tailed Kites of Lake Hodges
Presentation by Robert HarringtonSponsored by San Deguito River Park
September 17, 2011

Robert Harrington 2011

Birds of Lake HodgesMy personal observations

Clark's GrebeWestern GrebePied-billed GrebeDouble-crested CormorantGreat Blue HeronGreen HeronGreat EgretSnowy EgretBlack-crowned Night HeronMallardAmerican WigeonNorthern ShovelerTurkey VultureNorthern HarrierWhite-tailed KiteCooper's HawkRed-tailed HawkGolden EagleBald EagleOspreyPrairie FalconAmerican KestrelCalifornia QuailAmerican CootGull (various)Forster's TernMourning DoveAnna's HummingbirdNuttall's WoodpeckerBlack PhoebeSay's PhoebeAsh-throated FlycatcherCassin's KingbirdWestern KingbirdLoggerhead ShrikeWestern Scrub-JayAmerican CrowCommon RavenNorthern Rough-winged SwallowTree SwallowBushtitBewick's WrenHouse WrenWrentitBlue-gray GnatcatcherWestern BluebirdNorthern MockingbirdCalifornia ThrasherAmerican PipitPhainopeplaYellow-rumped WarblerCommon YellowthroatBlack-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakCalifornia TowheeSong SparrowWhite-crowned SparrowWestern MeadowlarkRed-winged BlackbirdHooded OrioleHouse FinchLesser GoldfinchAmerican GoldfinchHouse Sparrow

The White-tailed Kites of Lake Hodges

In early 2011 a pair of White-tailed Kites established a nest in the vicinity of the Piedras Pintadas Trail and raised 4 young.

In April they built another nest (No. 2) and raised 4 more.

In July they built another nest (No. 3) and raised 2 more.

Reference info:

Monogomous pairs are formed in December

Both of pair help in building nest

Female incubates four eggs for 30-32 days

Male brings food during incubation

Young fly 30-35 days after hatching

Parents continue to feed young for approx. one month

Estimated ChronologyWhite-tailed Kites of Lake Hodges, 2011

Trail Map, Lake Hodges South

Brood no. 1 (2 of 4), April 12

Brood No. 1, April 12

Adult, April 12

Nest No. 2, April 22

Nest Tree No. 2 seen from Piedras Pintadas Trail

Male delivering food, April 22

Adult in Nest, May 4

Male having his share, May 5

Male delivering portion to nest, May 5

Young in nest, May 26

Male delivering food, May 26

Young in nest, May 30

First venture from nest, June 3

First venture from nest, June 3:Looking for something to grab on to

First venture from nest, June 3:Getting lesson on the law of gravity

First venture from nest, June 3:Pulling up

First venture from nest, June 3:So what are you looking at?

Food handoff, June 5 (1)

Food handoff, June 5 (2)

Food handoff, June 5 (3)

Adult, June 8

Juvenile, June 8

Juvenile, June 8

Juvenile pursuing parent with prey, June 8

Juvenile grabbing prey from parent, June 8

Juvenile with gopher, June 8

Two of four Juveniles in Brood 2, June 13

Juvenile swallowing gopher, June 13

Siblings fighting for dinner, June 13Photo by Sharon Anthony

Food handoff, June 17 (1)

Food handoff, June 17 (2)

Food handoff, June 17 (3)

Food handoff, June 17 (4)

Food handoff, June 17 (5)

Food handoff, June 17 (6)

Food handoff, June 17 (7)

Juvenile, June 17

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (1)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (2)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (3)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (4)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (5)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (6)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (7)

Juvenile with gopher, June 17 (8)

Adult with material for Nest No. 3, June 24

Nest 3 in top of large oak tree, July 21

Adult delivering food to Nest 3, July 24

Adult delivering food to Nest 3, August 6

Juvenile from Nest 3, first day out of nest, August 8

Second Juvenile from Nest 3, August 8

Juvenile from Nest 3, August 11

Juvenile from Nest 3, August 15

NOTES

This presentation is posted here:

http://robert-harrington.com/photos/110820kites/

See also a presentation on the Grebes of Lake Hodges here:

http://robert-harrington.com/photos/1108617grebes/