A female Marsh Harrier deserted her brood, containing three 1-5 days old chicks and two as yet unhatched eggs, after the clover field containing her nest had been mowed. The male took over her tasks, including incubation (as indicated by the hatching of the two remaining eggs), brooding, partitioning of prey, feeding of prey to the chicks and removal of pellets from the nest. The latter three activities were proven with images of a trail camera placed at the nest. Eventually, three chicks fledged. It is suggested that favourable weather (warm and dry) and ditto food conditions (high vole abundance, set-aside and river nearby) facilitated the male’s success in raising the brood without the female’s help.

De Takkeling

CC BY 3.0 NL ("Naamsvermelding")

Werkgroep Roofvogels Nederland

T. Schaub, & M. Postma. (2020). Mannetje Bruine Kiekendief Circus aeruginosus brengt drie jongen tot uitvliegen na verlaten van broedsel door vrouwtje in vroeg jongenstadium. De Takkeling, 28(1), 69–77.