9/25/2023 0 Comments Mississippi kite hawkOne big fish: How a Mississippi man landed a 3,500-pound catfish. "They cross the Andes at their highest point in Columbia. "They go all the way down to southern Brazil," Coulson said. They leave between mid-July and early September - and their journey is a long one. Their flight seems almost effortless as their 4-foot wingspan and relatively small body allow them to stay aloft with minimal flapping. That comes in handy during migrations.Ĭoulson said swallow-tail kites begin arriving in Mississippi as early as late February. When they are safely away from the adult wasps, they tear open the chambers of the nest and eat the larvae.Īlso, unlike most other birds of prey, they often hunt and roost in groups. While an awkward task, Coulson said the birds will remove wasp nests from branches and fly away with them. They will hunt baby birds in nests and trees. "They hunt tree frogs, ribbon snakes and green snakes. ![]() "They do not go after chickens or poults. ![]() "They don't eat anything large," Coulson said. Swallow-tailed kites are state and federally protected birds of prey that feed on insects and small vertebrates. Counties where nesting has been documented include Copiah, Franklin, Lincoln, Marion, and Simpson along with several farther south.įor subscribers: How a snack shack held a tiny Mississippi town together. "A lot of the sightings have been near town and along 14-mile Creek as well."Įnough sightings have been in the Raymond area for her to suspect they are breeding there. "This year we've been receiving a number of sightings in the Raymond area," Coulson said. In more recent years, increased numbers of sightings of swallow-tailed kites and their nests are being documented in Central Mississippi. Researchers believe the birds may be regaining some of their historic range in Mississippi.Ĭoulson said data from about 10 years ago and earlier showed Mississippi only holding swallow-tailed kites, or STKs as they are often called in the birding world, on the Coast. Hummingbirds in Mississippi: Here's how to attract more of them to your yard Swallow-tailed kites sighted in these Mississippi counties Outdoor shows: 'Swamp People' celebs, country star coming to Wildlife Extravaganza, new MS Ag & Outdoor Expo That was one of the strongholds of their populations." It was extensive harvesting of the swamps. "It was around 1880 to 1930 - that time frame. "It was also when the longleaf pine savannah was harvested, too. Certainly there was extensive breeding-ground loss in the state.' "About 100 years ago, coinciding with a lot of clear-cutting of swamps, there was a population crash," Coulson said.
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