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Mississippi Kite Is Making a Comeback

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Mississippi Kite Is Making a Comeback Once a rare sight in southern Illinois, the bird known as a Mississippi kite is making a comeback. ) d r a l l a B t t o c S y B o t o h P Ki tes ( on the Rise Story By Bob Lindsay Yes, the Mississippi kite is a raptor, a Field marks for identifying adult genuine bird of prey, but one that prefers a Photos By Patricia Velte Mississippi kites include red eyes, steady diet of dragonflies, grasshoppers, a gray head with a dark eye mask pring bird count, Villa Ridge, Illinois: cicadas and perhaps an occasional frog or same street and same church park - lizard. Other more colorful common and a black tail. ing lot as previous years. names include blue darter, locust hawk, After a few minutes of waiting, two spotted tail hobby and lead kite, to name spring bird count numbers since the Sghostly silhouettes appear soaring but a few. The scientific name, Ictinia mis - mid-1980s reveals an almost four-fold high above the town. They are Mississippi sissippiensis , comes from the Greek word increase in numbers observed. First dis - kites, a bird John James Audubon referred for kite and the location where the first covered during an expedition into the to as the “hawk of the south,” a medium- type specimen was collected. recently acquired Louisiana Purchase sized, insect-eating raptor. Thirty years ago, this bird was a rare more than 200 years ago, many expedi - sight in southern Illinois, but a look at tion naturalists noted an abundance of 24 / Outdoor Illinois July 2007 Mississippi kites are graceful become more attractive. aspects of the birds appearance: red raptors, spending daylight hours Kites are in Illinois for only four eyes and a conspicuous, white wing months, approximately, so their activities patch, visible from a distance. soaring over open fields in search here center around reproduction, rearing Take a summer-time trip along some of insects. young and then preparation for a return of southern Illinois’ rivers to enjoy the to wintering habitat. First arrivals in resurgence of a bird early explorers Mississippi kites along the borders of southern Illinois begin in late April and found enchanting, and also enjoy the prairies and wooded stream banks. may stretch through early May. Breeding beauty of the wild lands, farms and even These riparian habitats are still the best adults (which some researchers believe urban landscapes which the Mississippi place to view kites today, which is why mate for life) are already paired upon kite now calls home...for at least part of places like Villa Ridge (just 3 and 5 arrival. Nesting begins almost immedi - its interesting life. miles respectively from the Cache and ately and young are leaving the nest by Ohio rivers) are good locations to sight a late July. Migration to South America kite during the Pulaski County spring begins in late August and rarely lingers Bob Lindsay is a DNR district heritage bird count. (Cario, Thebes and numer - much past the first week of September. biologist working in the Ferne Clyffe ous other river towns in the southern Patience is the key to glimpsing one State Park office. part of the state are great locations for of these magnificent birds in the wild, kite watching, as are Union County and an early start also is helpful. A State Fish and Wildlife Area and Horse - wait in suitable habitat is soon reward - shoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.) ed as the appearance of a bird quietly The downfall in years past and rela - and gracefully floating high above usu - tively recent success of this quiet, non- ally follows. obtrusive bird has most likely been its Since the birds feed mainly on preference for the productive bottom - insects, watching feeding kites can be land forests along our southern rivers. exciting as they pop up into view and The period of rapid agricultural develop - dodge back and forth in pursuit of their ment, along with associated land clear - prey. The birds often choose a dead ing, drainage and heavy pesticide use, snag poking up among the surrounding was a body blow to the reproductive trees to rest and preen in after extended success of this bird which loves to nest feeding patrols along levees and fields. in riparian woodlands, often selecting Field marks to look for include an overall very tall or super-canopy trees in which gray body plumage, pale gray head with to perch and nest. dark mask around the eye area, falcon- Recent years have seen a recovery like silhouette with pointed wings and a of lands which were in most cases mar - long, square, black tail. A close look at ginal for crop production, the planting of an adult bird reveals two striking thousands of acres of trees and a ban - ning of dangerous pesticides. Another Dead snags serve as perches for reason for the bird’s current success could be a range expansion as areas resting Mississippi kites. Pictured formerly considered too far north and on is an immature kite. the “edge” of the historical range July 2007 Outdoor Illinois / 25.
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