Nesting MISSISSIPPI KITE in Southside VA (Probability - 99.9%) (Long
report with link to pictures)
For years, Mississippi Kite have been observed in good numbers in Southside
VA, with highest counts in Greenville and Southampton Counties between the
town of Emporia and the North Carolina border. So it seems surprising the
only two nesting records in Virginia for this species are from Northern
Virginia and not Southside! Then again, if you've ever been to this area,
there is a lot of excellent MIKI habitat to scout out and finding nesting
kites can become the proverbial needle in a haystack.. Recent observations
would indicate MIKI are nesting in Southside VA!
Last weekend my husband and I traveled to Southside VA in search of
Mississippi Kite and, if located, to hopefully observe possible nesting. On
Saturday, June 18, we located two adults that I felt certain were a bonded
pair. For several hours I was able to observe them during feeding forays
and disappearing into canopy of trees. Attempts to locate nest were
unsuccessful; however, I felt certain I had at least narrowed it down to a
manageable sector. The area is perfect MIKI habitat that includes all the
key ingredients - small track of tall, old-growth mixed deciduous and
coniferous in swampy lowland adjacent to a pond with nearby crop fields
(peanut).
Today (June 25) I returned and I'm happy to report the pair is still there.
Throughout the day one adult which I believe to be the male typically would
perch on nearby exposed dead snags. Aerial and perch hunting was observed
over nearby open field. Several times it would flap for extended periods in
pursuit of prey. After grabbing up insects, the kite would fly low
disappearing into canopy of trees for several minutes before flying back out
to either hunt or perch on open snag. On two separate occasions a second
adult kite appeared from same area and the two would fly in short circles
low over canopy, aerial hunting, grabbing up primarily high-flying,
copper-brown colored dragonflies. Several times the adult male would fly
from perch with burst of speed out over open field and swoop down to the
ground quickly grabbing up an insect.
In the area where I suspect they are nesting, twice today I observed their
behavior with Fish Crow that came too close. The first involved 2 crow that
flew over open field toward perched male MIKI in suspected nesting area.
The kite immediately flew out of top of tree with one crow in pursuit. A
second crow landed in top branch of adjacent tree and the second adult kite
flew up to upper branch in same tree the first kite was in. The male kite
flew back and took after the perched crow; the first crow was nowhere to be
seen! The second kite, presumed to be the female, flew off and in less than
a minute returned to trees and disappeared into thick canopy. The male,
after chasing off the second crow, flew across the road away from suspected
"nesting" kite. Several minutes later I relocated the male kite perched
atop dead snag some 50-60 yards away on other side of road.
During the second crow event, a crow flew in too close to the suspected
nesting area and one of the kites flew out giving chase. Whack! I don't
think that crow knew what hit it!
More times than I wish to count, I drove and walked up and down this short
stretch of road looking for the nest or signs of kites in the trees. Quite
a few times the male would be perched on an exposed dead snag not far off
the road and I would stop to photograph. The kite seemed "tolerant" even
when I photographed while it was sunning. That "tolerance" must have worn
thin.
By 6 p.m. it was overcast and I had not seen the kites for over 20 minutes
and decided to call it a day. Slowly driving back along same stretch of
road I spotted the adult male perched in what seems to be its favored spot
maybe 30 yards from the road. I pulled completely off the road as I had
done countless times today and began photographing from driver's window.
For several minutes the kite appeared to be looking around. It then swooped
down with wings pulled in close to its body and bowed downward giving it
tight "M" shape coming straight toward the road. By now the kite was eye
level to me sitting in the van, heading straight towards the driver's window
and where I was sitting. By the time it reached the road I was preparing
for impact. In a split second maneuver, it stalled and its talons seemed to
almost touch the middle of the road just a few short feet away before
veering away from the van. That kite was so close I actually heard the wind
in its wings! It made a wide circle and returned to the dead snag and was
there maybe a few seconds before it made a second swoop toward the van. I
pulled the camera back inside the window and threw my arm up to keep the
kite from coming in the open window! Again, it stalled and veered away, but
this time closer! I still can't believe it didn't hit the van! The kite
returned back to same perch and started to preen. Several minutes passed
with no more "aggressive" behavior on the kite's part. Hoping to get a
digiscoped picture, I opened the rear side door from inside without a
reaction from the kite. I then slowly opened my door and no sooner had I
stepped out of the van when the kite swooped down coming at full speed.
Expecting I was about to get "whacked" like that crow, I ducked! This time
it came in so close I actually felt the wind on my face! Message received
loud and clear! Kite returned to sentry duty, I got back inside van, closed
van door, rolled up window and slowly slinked away.
If hatching has already taken place, I suspect young should be making their
presence known to the outside world in a week or two. I'm hoping to return
in the upcoming weeks to document young with the adults.
Web Link to pics of MIKI:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/MississippiKite-8_link.htm
Other observations of note:
WHITE-EYED VIREO - "chick-pet-a-weeo-chick" heard on many of the roads
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER- quite a few still actively singing PRAIRIE WARBLER
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - stunning adult RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD - quite a
few buzzing/humming around Turtle digging nest hole next to road!
Thankfully it reconsidered location and moved to another sandy spot further
back away from road.
Corn Snake
Web links to few pictures:
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/ProthonotaryWarbler2_link.htm
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/image_links/White-eyedVireo_link.htm
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
Photo journal including Birds of Virginia: www.birdsofvirginia.com
<http://www.birdsofvirginia.com>
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