2021 was a difficult year for the kites in NH. On the plus side, all 4
pairs that attempted to nest last year returned to the same territories,
but unfortunately we were only able to confirm success in one of the
four territories. The Kites were first made famous in 2008 and this is
(at least) the 13th consecutive year that kites (between 1 and 4 pairs)
have nested in New Hampshire in this isolated, rare, nesting colony.
DURHAM - The"Madbury Road" territory was first noted in 2017 and last
year's nest successfully fledged one chick as is the norm. At no time
has there ever been more than a single chick in a nest in NH. This
year, the pair moved the nest back down the street to the same location
as 3 years ago!! They nested in the same white pine tree in the same
back yard as in 2018!! Deb Powers found the nest this year. The home
owners were (as they were in 2018) gracious and welcoming of the birds
(and birders) to visit. But sadly, the nest didn't succeed. Incubation
start date was not documented, but hatching occurred roughly on June
30. July started with very cold wet weather and this combination likely
led to the death of the recently hatched chick. Sadly, the horrific end
of this nest was captured on July 6 when Deb Powers captured a photo of
what appears to be an adult trying to remove the dead baby from the
nest: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/51295275588
NEWMARKET - This specific Newmarket territory was first noted in 2018.
Last year, they nested high up in an oak tree and the nest failed for
unknown reasons. This year, the pair returned and quickly got to work.
Dan McCoy captured them copulating on May 21st:
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/341082111
But after that, sightings became intermittent and a specific
territory/nest could not be located. Despite a few birders searching
all summer, no nest and/or fledged young were ever found. It's not known
whether they built an undiscovered nest. I believed they were not
successful if they did. But ???
STRATHAM - This territory was first noted in 2017 and last year's nest
successfully fledged one chick. This year, they moved the nest again
into a new location into the side yard of a different home in the
neighborhood. The nest was placed in a black cherry tree this year and
was discovered by Chris Duffy. The black cherry was a new species of
nest tree for the kites in NH which have now used, maple, hickory, oak,
pine, and cherry trees for their nests!
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/350022551 The nest was not easily
seen and the neighbors weren't happy about birders so the nest was not
well documented. Incubation started somewhere during the first week of
June and hatch date was somewhere on or before July 15. The chick was
doing very well in the nest and was last reported on August 26 when it
was roughly 42+ days old. It was not seen flying, but is presumed to
have fledged due to its age. THIS IS THE ONLY FLEDGED KITE THIS SUMMER.
GREENLAND - This territory was first noted in 2020. Last year, they
nested successfully in a hickory tree, raising a single chick. The nest
fell down over the winter; however, the pair returned and rebuilt the
nest in the same crotch of the tree. Sightings, however, were few after
the nest was built, and despite the nest, incubation was never
observed. It's not known what happened here. Sightings of one (or two?)
birds were reported from time to time, but no evidence of a re-nesting
attempt was found. It is purely speculative as to what happened;
however, it is noted that a pair of Cooper's Hawks successfully raised a
family in the same immediate area, and I wonder if there could have been
conflict. Regardless, it is not known if they built another,
undiscovered nest. I believe they were not successful if they did. But
????
No other hints of new territories were uncovered; however, there may
have been 3 birds at the Stratham nest site on a couple of occasions.
This was not conclusive, and it also may reflect one of the adults from
the Greenland territory.
Thanks to Deb Powers, Chris Duffy, Dan McCoy, Ed Norton, Sheila Graydon,
and the home owners for their help and cooperation in following these birds.
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
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