BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE AND NORTHERN GOSHAWK INTERACTIONS WITH PEREGRINE FALCONS AT SAN MIGUEL ISLAND, CALIFORNIA

Abstract

Although the Black-shouldered (White-tailed) Kite (Elanus caeruleus) has not been known to nest on the California Channel Islands, it was locally abundant in mainland coastal areas of California in the 19th century (Waian and Stendall 1970). The kite population in the Santa Barbara region has increased substantially during the last 30 years, after being reduced to very small numbers by habitat destruction, shooting, and egg collecting in the early 1900s (Waian and Stendall 1970; Garrett and Dunn 1981). The species has not been previously reported from San Miguel Island, although there are four recent autumn sightings from nearby Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands (Garrett and Dunn 1981).