Fall Migration
A Fortunate Encounter
Betsy Cross
Beginning in early August, all Mississippi Kites, adults and juveniles, begin their migration to wintering areas in South America east of the Andes. By the time they reach South Texas, they are gathered in large flocks similar to those formed by Swainson’s and Broad-winged Hawks. These flocks may number in the hundreds and thousands of kites and might pass key concentration points like Veracruz in a single day. —Birds of Prey by Pete Dunne
The Bird Migration Explorer by Audubon
Just last month, Audubon launched a new migratory bird tracking platform, the Bird Migration Explorer. With this tool, you can choose a bird species, such as the Mississippi Kite, and it will generate an interactive version of the map showing the bird’s migratory pattern through an annual cycle. Read more about it here.
Some Good News
The population of Mississippi Kites appears to be on the rise according to recent counts during hawkwatches along the Gulf Coast and in Mexico. The Veracruz numbers—August through November—had been averaging around 210,000 until 20I3 and 2014, when they jumped to 329,592 and 362,514 respectively. (Reference: Birds of Prey (2016) by Pete Dunne.)
The Annual Migration of Mississippi Kites
Using Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer, watch the annual migration path of the Mississippi Kite.