Spotted Harriers Circus assimilis Nesting on the Nullarbor Plain

Abstract

After heavy autumn rains on the Nullarbor Plain (S.A) in 1983, Spotted Harriers Circus assimilis arrived and commenced breeding. They built their stick nests near telegraph poles; nest building took place in July and the young were almost fledged in mid September. There were at least 10 nests in a distance of 140 km, and the two closest nest were 180m apart. One nest was built on the ground and the eggs incubated, but it may have failed. By December most of the Harriers had left the area.