White-Tailed Kites Grappling

                                                                     

One of the reasons I love White Tailed Kites

Looking up from photographing the coyote (in a previous post) I saw a pair of kites, off in the distance flying close to each other.  I focused my camera on them and began shooting.  It was all happening so fast and the image in the viewfinder was so small I did not fully grasp what I was capturing.  But here it is, a series of pictures with the two adult kites their talons locked together, spinning and falling toward earth.

                                  

Some people think they are fighting but I think that is unlikely.  They have to maneuver in the air with one of them turning onto its back for them to engage.  Seems more likely a mating ritual of some sort that involves the mutual consent and cooperation of both of them.  Or, then again, maybe they are just having fun!                             

Continuing to spin about as they descend together.

And now coming closer to the ground you can see the distant horizon coming into view.

And now they are really low to the ground and just beginning to disengage.  Later they were together again higher up, one rolling on its back as if inviting another go around.  I didn't see them lock on again, but quite frankly I was thrilled, which is to say I was really, really happy, with what I had seen.  

I just now read an article on white-tailed kites and the article called this behavior grappling and that it is most often done on the boarders of their territories.  Apparently a mid air drawing of the boundary lines.  But I have also heard is questioned as possibly play behavior.  Shucks, I like the mating idea better.  If anyone knows for sure what this behavior is I would love to hear from you.