7/27/09

Colorado Division of Wildlife

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/Press.asp?PressId=6051
LAMAR, Colo - It happens around Lamar about this same time every year.  Medium sized slate gray birds start falling out of the trees.  These small raptors, called Mississippi Kites, are young birds that haven't learned how to fly yet.
 
By itself, this is not too unusual.  What is unusual is that the young birds seem to take longer to master the art of flying than most other bird species, and while they are on the ground, the parents will defend them vigorously.  
 
"They almost look comical," explains Colorado Division of Wildlife Officer Rick Gardner. "They're not just falling down.   They're flapping their wings, and trying to fly, but somewhat awkwardly.  It's actually a fairly soft landing.  Not too graceful, but fairly soft."
 
Once a young bird is on the ground, the adult kites defend their flightless young aggressively.  Gardner says both parents continue to care for the fallen chick - whether it's in a low lying branch, on the ground, or elsewhere - and protect it until it can fly. The process can take a few weeks.
 
Gardner asks local residents to help the fledgling birds out by keeping dogs and cats inside and allowing the birds plenty of time to "get their wings."
 
"We've had a few people pick them up and bring them to our office, but that only makes matters worse."  Gardner asks local residents to let nature take its course.  "They may look like they need to be 'rescued,' but the best thing is to leave them where they are and allow the parents time to feed them and eventually teach them how to fly," he said.
 
Mississippi Kits are members of the raptor family related to hawks, owls, and eagles.  They have sharp talons and strong beaks.
 
"It's not unusual for the adult birds to dive-bomb cats, dogs, foxes, coyotes, or even humans who get too close to the chick or the nest site."  Gardner advises leaving a fallen chick alone, regardless of how vulnerable it may appear.
 
As the name implies, Mississippi Kites are commonly found along the Gulf Coast.  Over the past several decades, the birds have been spending their summers further and further north.  The first Mississippi Kite reported in Colorado was in 1971.    In more recent years, sightings have been reported as far west as Pueblo.
 
The Arkansas River valley in Colorado seems to be the northern part of its range.  The birds especially flock to the Lamar area where tall trees for nesting, and open spaces for hunting insects and small animals provide good habitat.  Kites usually migrate to South America in winter.