White-Tailed Kite Behavior Question
I've been doing some preliminary filming for a bird-centric documentary at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary sporadically over the past few months, and have been enjoying watching this year's fledgling kites grow up. They've been exploring outside the nest for about two months now, and no longer need their parents help hunting. About two weeks ago, the adults started attacking the children during their evening hunting sessions; there are two breeding pairs and their children hunting in the same field now, but from their preferred hunting patches and favorite perches, I'm fairly certain the adults are attacking their own offspring. It's not as rough as when males fight over territory during mating season (there's no locking talons and spiraling toward the ground), but they are diving with claws out and occasionally making contact.
http://www.moonpotato.com/pictures/kitewar3.jpg
Are the parents teaching their children how to fight, or are they trying to drive them away to different hunting territory now that they're self-sufficient? The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior and Pete Dunne's Field Guide Companion didn't have anything about this behavior, but I'm very curious about it.
Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.