The Shively Swallow-tailed Kite is a first for Jefferson County in the modern
day era. However, during the 19th Century the species was much more widespread
across eastern North America including the western half of Kentucky. John James
Audubon even reported Swallow-tailed Kite *nesting* in the county.
From Mengel's "Birds of Kentucky" (1965) . . . Audubon wrote "Near the Falls of
the Ohio, a pair had a nest and reared four young ones, in 1820. In the lower
parts of Kentucky it begins to be more numerous."
If you have Mengel's book, the S-t Kite entry (p. 204) is quite an interesting
read.
bpb, Louisville
