I stopped by 18th and Utah in North Arlington this morning to check on the
Mississippi kite nest. I saw no perched or flying kites.
I managed to get a good scope view of the nest and I saw no evidence of an
adult kite or chicks in or around the nest. After about five minutes I saw an
American crow fly in, land on the edge of the nest, look into the nest and fly
off. There was no evidence of any sort of nest defense by adult kites. I
can't imagine that the adult kites would have left unhatched eggs or recently
hatched chicks unattended in the open nest.
I have in past years seen Mississippi kites engage in vigorousness nest
defense against crows and raptors, and I have seen crows predate and destroy
Mississippi kite nests. My best assessment of what I saw this morning is that
the nest either failed or was predated by the crows and that the adult kites
have abandoned the nest.
Too bad.
If anyone sees any evidence of any Mississippi kites around this nest, I
would appreciate a Va-bird post or send me note.
Thank You,
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
