The Swallow-tailed Kite's nesting season usually begins around mid-March,
peaks during the month of April, and then ends in mid-May.
Both the
male and female participate in building the nest which is made of twigs
and often lined with Spanish moss. Nests are generally located in tall
trees, loblolly pine trees being a particular favorite, that are
situated near forested marshland or wetland areas. The female kite
usually lays 2 - 4 creamy-white eggs with brown markings. The incubation
period takes about 28 days with the fledgling period lasting about 36 -
42 days during which time both parents feed and care for their
young.
The breeding range, which includes the eastern Gulf coast, most
of Florida, and the south Atlantic coast as far north as South
Carolina, is only about one-fourth of what it was between 1880 and
1910. Some of the factors thought to be responsible for this
dramatic reduction in breeding range are: wetland loss and drainage,
indiscriminate shooting, and vulnerability to pesticides causing
reproductive failures. As a result of their dramatic decline, the
Swallow-tailed Kite has been listed as either threatened or
endangered throughout the United States.
The coastal marshes of Georgia, including those of Georgia's
Golden Isles, represent nearly a third of the salt marshes on the east
coast of the United States, making it an ideal breeding ground for the
Swallow-tailed Kite.
To find out what you can do to help with the
conservation of these beautiful birds, visit the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources Swallow-tailed Kite Monitoring Project online at: www.gos.org/sightings/19-hawks/stki.html or contact:
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