{"id":4827,"date":"2014-04-27T21:47:27","date_gmt":"2014-04-28T02:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=4827"},"modified":"2014-05-09T11:38:03","modified_gmt":"2014-05-09T16:38:03","slug":"more-swallow-tailed-kites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2014\/more-swallow-tailed-kites","title":{"rendered":"More Swallow-Tailed Kites!!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4828\" alt=\"swallow-tailed-kite\" src=\"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite.jpg\" width=\"587\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite.jpg 734w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite-107x150.jpg 107w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite-179x250.jpg 179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 587px) 85vw, 587px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While driving back from St. Pete, I came across this pair of <strong>Swallow-Tailed Kites<\/strong> soaring between large oak trees. [<a href=\"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/other\/swallow-tailed-kite14\/content\/p1000561_large.html\" target=\"_blank\">gallery<\/a>] It&#8217;s hard to describe their graceful maneuvers as they searched for their insect prey. They looked more like butterflies than birds! Just as I was leaving two small birds (Cardinals?) finally got fed up and mobbed the larger birds to make them leave.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-4827 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite1.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite1-150x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite1-374x250.jpg 374w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite1.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 85vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite2.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite2-150x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite2-374x250.jpg 374w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite2.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 85vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite3.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite3-150x100.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite3-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite3-374x250.jpg 374w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/swallow-tailed-kite3.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 85vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WKlePzDfRQE\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Short clip, but I got the pair flying together between the trees. &lt;smile&gt;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4837\" alt=\"great-florida-birding-trail-sign\" src=\"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/great-florida-birding-trail-sign-173x250.jpg\" width=\"173\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/great-florida-birding-trail-sign-173x250.jpg 173w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/great-florida-birding-trail-sign-104x150.jpg 104w, https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/great-florida-birding-trail-sign.jpg 312w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 173px) 85vw, 173px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You may see these birds from spring to fall all over the <strong>State of Florida<\/strong>. It&#8217;s hard to miss them if you know what to look for! I frequently see them along <strong>I-75<\/strong>\u00a0anywhere the trees come up to the road. I&#8217;ve also seen them soaring over shopping malls in suburban areas?! Unlike other predatory birds (such as Red-Shouldered Hawks), which sit on a perch and suddenly pounce on their prey\u2014these <strong>Kites glide over and between large trees<\/strong>. Unlike other soaring birds (such as Turkey Vultures), <strong>they fly near the ground<\/strong> where they are easy to see. Online references place their numbers at 2000-4000. This species adorns <a title=\"Great Florida Birding Trail\" href=\"http:\/\/floridabirdingtrail.com\/index.php\/about\/access_the_trail\/\" target=\"_blank\">birding trail signs<\/a> throughout the state.<\/p>\n<p>Here is what <a title=\"The Ultimate Bird\" href=\"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/2009\/03\/the-ultimate-bird-swallow-tailed-kite\/\" target=\"_blank\">I wrote in 2009<\/a>\u00a0about the <em>Ultimate Bird<\/em>&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Every Spring I look forward to the return of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/AllAboutBirds\/BirdGuide\/Swallow-tailed_Kite.html\" target=\"_blank\">Swallow-Tailed Kites<\/a> (Elanoides forficatus) from their <a href=\"http:\/\/content.ornith.cornell.edu\/UEWebApp\/images\/elan_forf_AllAm_map.gif\" target=\"_blank\">South American sojourn<\/a>. I&#8217;ve seen two so far this year. In the US this bird is almost unique to Florida, where it comes to breed. I can still remember the first time I saw one driving along a rural highway\u2014I looked up and &#8220;Wow!&#8221; I was hooked. After giving it some thought I&#8217;ve concluded that in addition to the striking forked tail and elegance in the air, the white on black plumage creates a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bobolinkbooks.com\/Camoupedia\/DazzleCamouflage.html\" target=\"_blank\">dazzle camouflage<\/a> effect. The smaller white bird on a dark background looks dove-like or even angelic in the morning light. Always a remarkable sight!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While driving back from St. Pete, I came across this pair of Swallow-Tailed Kites soaring between large oak trees. [gallery] It&#8217;s hard to describe their graceful maneuvers as they searched for their insect prey. They looked more like butterflies than birds! Just as I was leaving two small birds (Cardinals?) finally got fed up and &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2014\/more-swallow-tailed-kites\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;More Swallow-Tailed Kites!!&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birds","category-photography"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4827"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4866,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4827\/revisions\/4866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}