In their final weeks in the nest, the red kite chicks grew strong & sure. Squabbles over food got slicker, new flight feathers meant they were sleeker, and when a goshawk came dangerously close, the youngsters learned to sense danger.
Direct view into nest
I've been following this red kite family for months, using a hidden camera to capture some very special moments. I also placed a hide on a 16-metre scaffold tower so I could watch the action close up. By five weeks the chicks begin to lose their fluffy down and their beautiful flight feathers come through and can now tear up chunks of prey and feed themselves. Although competition among them is fierce, they now understand the pecking order and become submissive when mum arrives to install order.
It's incredible to see how fast they are developing. Now that their feathers have grown through they spend time preening. But they are also very active, flapping and stretching their wings. Now that they've grown space in the nest is tight and one inadvertently bashes its sibling on the head!
Mealtime squabbles
Dinner times can be quite lawless and unless the chicks protect their food, it's likely to be snatched. Watch how they spread their wings like a mantle to guard it - and see what happens when they don't! This aggression is necessary for survival in the wild and when a goshawk appears right next to the nest things get tense. A female goshawk is capable of taking a red kite chick, but thankfully this one decides not to attack.
Branching
By seven weeks, they venture out of the nest - hopping to a nearby branch. This is common behaviour amongst birds of prey and gives them more space to flap and pounce. It's not long before the eldest chick then makes its first flight, right to the top of their tree. It's clearly exhausted from the effort and when I spot it it's falling to sleep!
What an incredible experience. Join me next time to watch the remaining two chicks take flight and learn the ropes from their patient parents.
