Een ‘Rabenmutter’ bij de Bruine Kiekendief Circus aeruginosus, of: hoe een mannetje zonder hulp zijn jongen grootbrengt

In 2012, on the island of Texel a nest of Marsh Harriers was discovered where apparently the female had deserted in the last part of the nestling stage. Daily observations since then till well after fledging showed that the male was the sole provider of food, with an average prey delivery rate of less than once per hour (50 prey brought during 51 observations days, with 1-2 hours of observation each day, varying between none during inclement weather and up to four frogs in 15 minutes). During this period, a female Marsh Harrier (of unknown identity) was recorded a few times, once even with food, but each time she did not visit the nest nor did she drop off a food item. Despite the fact that 2012 was a poor vole year on Texel, the widowed male managed to raise three chicks. Presumably, at the time of female desertion, the chicks had already been able to handle prey items themselves.