Breeding and Diet of a Pair of Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura on the Mid-north Coast of New South Wales

The diet and breeding of a pair of Square-tailed Kites Lophoictinia isura were studied at  o ne nest on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, in the spring and early summer of 2001 ,  by direct observation and by analysis of pellets a nd prey remain s. The nest was in a tall  Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis on the edge of forest near a town. The nestling period occupied  early October to ear!y December, with fledging of one young by mid December. Brood  r educ tion a nd cannibalism of the smaller sibling, almost halfway through the nestling ph ase,  were associated with appa rent food s hort age . The diet consisted mostly of nestling birds , but  included two Eastern Rosellas Platycercus eximius, a Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus  peregrin u s and a reptile . Nestling growth and development , and so me behavioural observations  are de s cribed.