Bald eagles, hawks, owls and ospreys get a great deal of
attention but of all of the raptors, the kites are often ignored. Part of the
lack of enthusiasm for Swallow-tailed Kites (Elanoides forficatus) is that
they never seem to land. As soon as morning thermal updrafts develop they take
to the sky and soar like a kite – rarely flapping their wings. (In truth, the
toy is named after the bird). Just a warm summer breeze and both are carried
aloft.
The Swallow-tailed Kite has a deeply forked tail which they
use to exercise amazing twists and turns. Their prey includes dragonflies and
other aeronautic insects which the birds catch and eat while in the air. They
swoop from the sky and take unsuspecting birds, lizards and other terrestrial prey,
taking no time to rest and enjoy their
meal.
Another possible reason many people don’t get wild for
Swallow-tailed Kites is the snow white bellied birds return from South America
from roughly April through August when the southeastern United States
On my Sunday morning bike ride in the Corkscrew Regional Watershed Ecosystem’s Bird Rookery Unit, We inadvertently spooked a flock of
kites roosting in a dead maple tree. This was the first one I have ever seen
perched, which gave me the chance to check out a well curved beak and navy blue
wings that look like a five year old had colored sloppily over the lines.
In a few weeks the Swallow-tailed Kites will begin to gather
before migrating south. People that hadn’t noticed they were here are missing
out. Those that saw a bird fly by and paid no mind are too. But those that
realize what they are looking at know what a special bird it is. See you next
year STKs.
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