Avian Research and Conservation Institute - www.arcinst.org

We are on the Swallow-tailed end of kite migration. See our latest blog on four GPS-tracked birds from Palm Beach County, Florida:
https://www.arcinst.org/2024/08/30/four-gps-tracked-swallow-tailed-kite-from-palm-beach-county-florida-safely-cross-the-gulf-of-mexico-on-their-way-to-their-wintering-grounds/

Tagged and tracked with our partners from Palm Beach Zoo and Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management

Together with Orleans Audubon Society, we are following 18 Swallow-tailed Kites on migration through various projects, partners, donors and funders. We will have more specific migration soon. But for now, know that Suwannee 22 is spending time on the Savannah River after her hurricane travels: https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/08/10/hurricane-debby-bird-effects/74715752007/

Some kites have not uploaded data for 19 days (hopefully safe but not close to a cell tower) while many have moved through Florida and crossed the Gulf of Mexico safely. Only one kite is still near its breeding grounds in South Carolina. Many of our GPS-tracked kites have been or could still be counted by Florida Keys Hawkwatch which is having a record Swallow-tailed Kite count this August!

There are Swallow-tailed Kites moving through the southeastern US on migration. A quick update on the 14 kites ARCI are tracking is shown here. Our colleagues at Orleans Audubon Society are tracking four others. Four kites have made it safe to Central America and two may be crossing the Gulf of Mexico as we write. Suwannee 22 is regrouping on the big rivers of southeastern Georgia after her ride through Hurricane Debby. More migration stories coming soon.

Suwannee 22, a GPS-tracked Swallow-tailed Kite, made headlines for her journey through Hurricane Debby.

Thanks USAToday for picking up her story.

Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges

https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/08/10/hurricane-debby-bird-effects/74715752007/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR392ypj47ND0cUZjHXz4eFlmc9WwvosFyyDMm9GVHKCxXfpOMEddoqTNSY_aem_4MHRzDtXZCD3nGDSSgPzcQ

**Update on Suwannee 22-safe in southern Georgia as of 9 August.

Caught in Hurricane Debby's winds, a migrating bird ended up where she started A migrating swallow-tailed kite named Suwannee 22 had quite a journey as she attempted to fly from Florida to Cuba as Debby moved through.

Your questions answered! Migration through the perils of Hurricane Debby, one Swallow-tailed Kite's trip through the eye of the storm.
https://www.arcinst.org/2024/08/05/riding-the-storm-out-one-swallow-tailed-kites-treacherous-path-through-hurricane-debby/

Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges

**Suwannee 22 is a female. DNA tested through a feather sample. Updated in post.

And they are off! Swallow-tailed Kites have started south across the Gulf of Mexico. See where our GPS-tracked aerial research team is now on their pre-migration. Who is next to cross the Gulf? Be careful kites, there's a storm coming!
https://www.arcinst.org/2024/08/02/aerial-research-team-updates/

Help us out and report your Swallow-tailed Kite sightings:
https://form.jotform.com/241854595987175

Thanks for all your kite sightings!

The link for reporting https://form.jotform.com/241854595987175

We are learning more each year on how Swallow-tailed Kites are using work forests in the Southeastern U.S. thanks to our great collaboration with American Bird Conservancy, International Paper and Orleans Audubon Society. See our latest updates: https://www.arcinst.org/2024/07/11/coalition-supports-swallow-tailed-kite-research-to-improve-sustainable-forests-in-the-southeastern-us/
photo by A. Kent

Join the flock! Add your kites to the National Population total!
https://form.jotform.com/241854595987175

Are you seeing Swallow-tailed Kites as they prepare for migration? Here's what you can do to help: https://www.arcinst.org/2024/07/05/monitoring-swallow-tailed-kite-population-how-you-can-help/

ARCI has worked on Swallow-tailed Kite research on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge since the 1980's. This year we are tracking our 6th adult female, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Florida Panther NWR! https://www.arcinst.org/2024/07/11/swallow-tailed-kite-conservation-continues-at-the-florida-panther-national-wildlife-refuge/
Panther National Wildlife Refuge, of the Florida Panther Refuge

Your Kites Count! Add your numbers to the National Swallow-tailed Kite Population Monitoring Surveys.
https://www.arcinst.org/2024/07/05/monitoring-swallow-tailed-kite-population-how-you-can-help/

ARCI, Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management and Palm Beach Zoo have a special partnership on the kites of Palm Beach County Florida. Meet the Swallow-tailed Kites we are tracking now and their nesting outcomes on county lands: https://www.arcinst.org/2024/07/11/continuing-a-rewarding-palm-beach-county-swallow-tailed-kite-collaboration/

Swallow-tailed Kites are gathering to get ready to feed and rest before their southbound migration. Click below to see how ARCI has been monitoring population trends for decades and where YOU can make a difference by adding your observations to our totals. The survey form is LIVE, and official counts are July 15 to 10 August.
https://www.arcinst.org/2024/07/05/monitoring-swallow-tailed-kite-population-how-you-can-help/

Report sightings here: https://www.arcinst.org/
Photo by A.Kent

Swallow-tailed kites are once again filling the skies of Palm Beach County. You can't help but notice them - black and white birds with pointed wings and deeply forked tails gliding over treetops. After spending the winter in South America, they have returned to South Florida to nest. These two photos, shot by Don Marchetto in a Palm Beach County natural area, capture the growth of two swallow-tailed kite chicks over the course of two weeks. Mom and Dad are certainly keeping them well fed. What types of food are they eating? It could be flying insects, tree frogs, lizards, nestling birds or snakes. The babies will need to grow up fast – by late August they will be winging their way back to South America

The Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) has teamed up with the Avian Research and Conservation Institute - www.arcinst.org (ARCI) to further our understanding of swallow-tailed kites. ARCI deploys GSM -GPS-equipped cell-phone transmitters on adult birds that produce accurate, time-stratified location data that helps answer some of the important questions about the species’ conservation biology. The Palm Beach Zoo and its long-time sponsor Florida Power & Light provides funding for these transmitters. Four swallow-tailed kites from ERM natural areas are fitted with transmitters: Juno, Lox 22, Luckey Lox and Cypress. All four birds returned to Palm Beach County in March of this year. Visit https://www.arcinst.org/blog/ to read up on these tracked swallow-tailed kites.

Is there a swallow-tailed kite nest in your area? ARCI’s Eyes on Kites initiative works with the public to gather data from nest monitoring to measure the productivity of swallow-tailed kites around Florida. All nest locations are kept confidential and archived by ARCI for research purposes to maintain safety for the kites and landowners. Visit https://www.arcinst.org/eyes-on-kites/ to learn more about this program.

POSTPONED: This event will be rescheduled for the Fall.

Join ARCI's director, Ken Meyer, May 16th in Naples to hear about our Swallow-tailed Kite research with Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

Join the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge on May 16th in Naples Florida for their annual meeting, featuring speaker Ken Meyer with Avian Research and Conservation Institute - www.arcinst.org. Ken will be presenting on Swallow-tailed Kites, you won't want to miss this!!! Registration & Ticket Link:
https://FloridaPanther-KiteNight.eventbright.com

On 21 March 2024, Bailey’s Homestead was in northern Quintana Roo, Mexico, about 25 miles from the northern coast. This would be the day he would fly across the Gulf of Mexico to get back to his breeding grounds in Sanibel, Florida.

Six days later, after following a similar path through Central America and Mexico, Barrington from McIntosh, Georgia was also on the coast of Quintana Roo, and took flight northbound over the Gulf. After flying 250 miles he most likely came against strong headwinds forcing him southeast to Cuba 24 hours later. Luckily, he decided to rest for three days waiting for better winds to head across the Gulf once again. In 24 hours, he made it to Alligator Point, Florida, and by 4 April he was back on his Georgia territory.

Meanwhile we had no data downloads from Bailey’s Homestead, but we were hopeful that he may have also spent time on Cuba if he had encountered similar winds as Barrington. Unfortunately, now weeks later, we have still not “heard” anything from Bailey’s Homestead. Although we are not positive, there is a strong suspicion that he did not survive the Gulf Crossing. A reminder of how hard migration is, especially crossing large bodies of water.

Celebrating the return of Swallow-tailed Kites to Palm beach Florida. Thank you to our partners at Palm Beach Zoo and Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management

An update from Avian Research and Conservation Institute - www.arcinst.org (ARCI) on four GPS-tagged swallow-tailed kites from Palm Beach County as they return to Florida.

Crossing the Gulf of Mexico is a risky task for migratory birds, especially in February and March when cold fronts pushing south can turn favorable tailwind conditions quickly into deadly headwinds. Luckey Lox was the first to cross on March 1. It took her 48 hours to reach Pinellas County, FL.

Cypress left two days after Luckey Lox and also took 48 hours to cross the Gulf of Mexico but covered more miles due to the wind's speed. Luckily, he recalibrated his direction and made landfall in Pinellas County, FL on March 6.

Lox 22 rode a very strong tailwind on March 10 to Cuba in only six hours. The weather was not good for migrating the next few days, so he rested on the north coast of Cuba and continued his migration on March 12 from east of Cabanas. After 32 hours in the air, he landed near Panama City, FL for a rest before continuing southeast over land to his former breeding site.

The most recent GPS-tracked swallow-tailed kite to return to Palm Beach County, FL was Juno. She had the easiest and quickest route to Florida. She left northern Yucatan on March 17 and was crossing land in Citrus County, Florida 26 hours later.

This swallow-tailed kite tracking program is possible through a partnership between ARCI, Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management, Palm Beach Zoo and Zoo sponsor Florida Power & Light, who generously provided funding for the solar-powered GSM-GPS transmitters needed to continue this vital conservation effort. Learn more about the swallow-tailed kite tracking program partnership between Avian Research and Conservation Institute, Palm Beach Zoo and Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Resources Management here: https://discover.pbc.gov/erm/Pages/trail-tails_kite.aspx

From our last update on March 12, 2024, five of the GPS-tracked Swallow-tailed Kites made their way to their 2023 territories in the southeast U.S. (Cypress, Luckey Lox, Cinco, Suwannee22 and Snuffbox Canal). Since then, Sanibel Botanical has returned to Sanibel Island in Lee County, FL. We have also had six other GPS-tracked Swallow-tailed Kites cross the Gulf of Mexico to reach the U.S. Lox 22 had a bit of a lengthy crossing but was able to rest in Cuba for a day. Juno had a the most direct route back to Palm Beach County, FL. Peter’s Creek and Belle River and Abita Flatwoods flew across on good tail winds towards their final South Carolina and Louisiana destinations. The latest to cross the Gulf of Mexico was Simmon’s Creek after headwinds and a cold front, he is safe in Louisiana and on his way to South Carolina.
Fingers crossed for Baliey’s Homestead who could be crossing the Gulf as we post, followed a day or two later by Barrington. Safe flights to all migratory birds!
Florida Panther National Wildlife RefugeFriends of the Florida Panther RefugeOrleans Audubon SocietyFriends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife RefugesAmerican Bird ConservancyPalm Beach ZooPalm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources ManagementSCCF

https://www.arcinst.org/2024/03/21/2024-nest-monitoring-with-arci/

You can help ARCI helps Swallow-tailed Kites by reporting nesting activity. Join our Eyes on Kites program: https://www.arcinst.org/eyes-on-kites/ and we'll guide you how to safely monitor a kite nest (for the birds privacy and land owner protection).
We are still tracking GPS-tagged kites back from South America, but the ones back on territory are starting their courtship and nest building. It's an exciting time of the year!
Photo by D. Marchetto

Join us Thursday. Register for free today!

Keeping Up with Swallow-tailed Kites https://youtu.be/8NxePuQqcs8 The Swallow-tailed Kite is instantly recognizable in the summertime skies of the Southeastern United States. Capable aerial

Hello ARCI supporters. Unfortunately, our Apple Snail sampling crew were victims of theft a few weeks ago. While out in the greater Everglades monitoring Apple Snail densities for the endangered Snail Kite, captain Brad's truck with airboat trailer had been stolen. As you can imagine, this put a halt to our work and our feeling of security while out on the water. Worst of all was the loss of personal and sentimental items Brad had within the truck that were not covered by insurance. Brad has set up a GoFund Me page to recover some costs and we are hoping that You good people can offer a bit of support and share this site widely. We are grateful to Brad's commitment to our research and hope he'll get some compensation for this cruel act. Thank you.

Help Brad Recover From Business Theft, organised by Brad Phares My name is Brad Phares and I utilize my truck and airboat to do a tremendous amount … Brad Phares needs your support for Help Brad Recover From Business Theft

The flood gates have opened for Swallow-tailed Kites migrating across the Gulf of Mexico! Six GPS-tracked Kites have made it to the U.S. Read on:
https://www.arcinst.org/2024/03/12/safely-arriving-from-crossing-the-gulf-of-mexico-gps-tracked-swallow-tailed-kites-return-to-the-southeastern-us/

Orleans Audubon SocietyAmerican Bird ConservancyFriends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife RefugesFriends of the Florida Panther RefugePalm Beach ZooPalm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources ManagementFlorida Panther National Wildlife RefugeInternational PaperSCCFThe Avian Reconditioning Center for Birds of Prey

Join this webinar to learn how birds like the Swallow-tailed Kite can be ambassadors for working forests.

🌳🐦 Don’t miss our next free webinar: "Trees at Work: How Working Forests Can Help Birds in the U.S. Southeast"

Thursday, March 21 at 4 pm ET, join ABC to meet three emblematic birds from the U.S. Southeast Region — Swallow-tailed Kites, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and Prothonotary Warblers — and learn how many private landowners are actively working to improve their land management practices with these birds in mind. ABC has been working to provide breeding habitat for these iconic species through an innovative and award-winning partnership with International Paper (IP), the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI), Orleans Audubon Society, and others. Join us to understand how this work is ensuring that birds have the habitat they need to thrive!

🎥 Can't Attend Live? RSVP to receive a recording for viewing later!

🔗 Register Now for this FREE webinar at https://bit.ly/3PhM57M


International Paper Avian Research and Conservation Institute - www.arcinst.org Orleans Audubon Society

Hot off the press! Our article on Snail Kite movements titled: "Foray movements are common and vary with natal habitat for a highly mobile bird" was published today in Ecology and Evolution!
http://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11096

Big thanks to all authors: Caroline L. Poli, Kenneth D. Meyer, Philip C. Darby, Sarah J. Dudek, Gina Kent, Robert J. Fletcher Jr.

Photo of a Snail Kite by Jean Hall

Some of our favorite descriptions of Swallow-tailed Kites thanks to Mark Hedden
https://keysweekly.com/42/wild-things-the-mechanics-of-grace/

If you are spotting some of the early Swallow-tailed Kites (many more to come!) you can report them here: https://www.arcinst.org/report-sightings/

Submit Bird Sightings Contributions or gifts to Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI), a 501(c)(3) organization, are deductible as charitable contributions for United States federal income tax purposes.

Amazon and Andes Mountain crossings; Swallow-tailed Kites are heading through South America.
Most of the GPS-tracked kites are fitted with GSM units that connect to the cell network, but there are not a lot of cell towers through these remote locations so we have not "heard" from many of them. However, three kites are fitted with GPS/satellite units that connect every other day to upload their locations.
Snuffbox Canal, a male from Georgia is leading the flock as it nears the high and potentially treacherous Andes Mt. crossing in Colombia. Belle River, a female from Louisiana has settled in to northern Peru for a stopover refueling. Simmon's Creek, a male from South Carolina is covering ground through the Brazilian Amazon. We can assume the other GPS/GSM-tracked kites are traveling through these same areas and we'll get their track updates any day.
As Swallow-tailed Kites come in to the Southeast US, you can help us help them by recording your sightings here: https://www.arcinst.org/report-sightings/

American Bird Conservancy,Orleans Audubon Society, Florida Panther National Wildlife RefugeFriends of the Florida Panther Refuge, of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Beach ZooPalm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management,SCCF

Swallow-tailed Kites are starting to show up in Florida. ARCI has a sightings database: https://www.arcinst.org/report-sightings/ as well as a nest watch program: https://www.arcinst.org/eyes-on-kites/

Help us track kites, be our Eyes on Kites! Thank you.

A wave of migrating Swallow-tailed Kites are heading north from South America. ARCI and Orleans Audubon Society are tracking kites with GPS and 9 of them have started heading back from wintering in Brazil. Below, 14 GPS-tracked kites are shown at their current locations in South America. We anticipate spotty data uploads as these birds go through areas with out the needed cell towers to upload their data. Can't wait to see you kites when you return to the Southeastern US!
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge, Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, Palm Beach Zoo, Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management, SCCF, American Bird Conservancy, International Paper, Orleans Audubon Society, Cellular Tracking Technologies