25 October 2021 I was fortunate to watch the three oldest of four Black-shouldered Kites take their first flights.

One of the parents came to the nest and escorted the first chick with much vocalising back and forth. The next two took off soon after. They all looked pretty awkward at first with their feet down but managed flights of a couple of hundred meters. Again feet were down early as they landed on tree branches.

Two of them flew more than once and one flew back to the nesting tree without an escort.

The youngest chick remained in the nest.