 Swallow-tailed kite by Jack Rogers
The mascot of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
is a much admired, graceful, elegant raptor that can be found throughout much
of the state from early spring to early fall. During the winter months, all of
the United States’ swallow-tailed kites can be found in Brazil. The kites begin
to leave Brazil around the turn of the year and fly more than 3,000 miles to
the south-eastern USA. The first kites are often reported from southern Florida
in early February but the bulk of our state population doesn’t arrive until
late-March/early-April.
Flying with consummate ease the kite plucks frogs, lizards,
snakes, ants, dragonflies and even nestlings from the tops of trees; in
Central America, kites have even been observed eating fruit! Kites prefer to
eat their food on the wing. During the spring and summer it is not uncommon to
see several pairs of kites building their nests in close proximity to each
other.
Look for swallow-tailed kites over wetland habitats, along
rivers, over agricultural fields (particularly in late summer) and pine forest.
Large congregations of kites gather in select areas around Florida in late July
and August before they embark on their long journey south to Brazil.
The Avian Research and Conservation Institute has been
studying swallow-tailed kites since 1988. Their research has revealed many
important and fascinating aspects of kite ecology. To learn more visit the ARCI website.
To learn more about where you can see swallow-tailed kites
in Florida visit the Great
Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail website.
Both of our Checklist of Florida’s Birds and Checklist of Florida
Butterflies have been updated (June 2017). You can order a printed copy
(7.25 x 4.5 inch booklet) from our website.
Order your printed copy HERE.
 a young chicken turtle by Andy Wraithmell
Collectively, you all explore most of Florida and encounter
many of its plant and animal species. Our biologists want your help to
understand where plants and animals occur in the state. Share your finds using
Florida Nature Trackers, an FWC program that uses iNaturalist to document
Florida’s natural heritage. We are adding new projects all the time, including
projects for each of our wildlife management areas and a wide variety of
taxonomic groups. Visit floridanaturetrackers.com
to learn more.
 black skimmers by Maren Arndt
This Facebook sticky has proved to be very popular with our followers. Come and join in! All you have to do to take part is look
for our Facebook post at noon every Saturday and share a bird, animal, insect,
and sunset or landscape picture as a comment. The picture has to be taken in
Florida. Whitney and Andy will pick out their favorite, which will then be featured on the Saturday Share post the following
week.
Por favor comparta su foto del atardecer como un
comentario y podremos utilizarla para el “Saturday Share” post de la semana que
viene.
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