POSTFLEDGING DEPENDENCE PERIOD AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLIGHT AND HUNTING BEHAVIOR IN THE RED KITE MILVUS MILVUS

The post-fledging dependence period of 37 Red Kites was studied in the Donana Biological Reserve (Spain). The juveniles fledged at a mean ag e of 55.1 days and remained near the nest, depending on their parents for food, for on average a further 25.6 days. Flight behaviour of the fledglings showed both a gradual increase in time spent flying and a t ransition from flapping to gliding and soaring flights. Hunting behavi our and manipulative play with objects were very rare during 511 hours spent observing juveniles during the post-fledging dependence period. It seems that juveniles do not start searching for food until they ar e independent. On average young kites were captured in baited traps fo r the first time 31.5 days after fledging. Some juveniles dispersed fr om the natal area as they became independent but most remained in the natal area for a variable period of up to 42 days before dispersal. Mo rtality during the post-fledging period was 13.5%.