3rd Annual Audubon SC

1
A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR VOLUNTEER MONITORING OF
SWALLOW-TAILED KITES

• 3rd Annual Audubon SC
• STKI Boat Survey
• April 17-20, 2009
• Contact ashahid_at_audubon.org

2
Why Do We Need Your Help?

• There are only 800 - 1,150 pairs in the United
  States, making it one of the rarest birds in the
  country.
• Little is know about SCs Kites or the location
  of their nesting sites.
• Locating these sites will help conservation
  groups protect the species and its critical
  habitat, protecting many other species at the
  same time.
• Volunteers are critical to monitoring these
  far-traveled birds.

3
Equipment You Will Need

• A watercraft (motorized boat, canoe or kayak)
• Binoculars
• GPS Unit (for more accurate locations) or some
  physical landmarks to identify area
• Reporting forms (provided)

4
You Will Need to Register

• Contact ashahid_at_audubon.org or call Ann Shahid at
  [phone] to register.
• Registering will prevent duplicate efforts by
  volunteers and ensure that all of the search
  areas are covered.

5
Whats Required of Volunteers

• You must be on your assigned stretch of the river
  at approximately 1000 AM and finished by 200
  PM..(or as close as possible.)
• Each sighting should have a GPS coordinate or
  some other way to identify the location.
• Please mail in your sightings (or lack of) on
  forms sent to you within 48 hrs. of your
  excursion.
• If you are paddling, you must arrange for your
  own pickup and return to your launch location.
  Audubon will assist volunteers in coordinating
  with each other for pickup and drop-off.

6
Project Area

• Edisto River (From Branchville to Jacksonboro)
• Black Mingo Creek/Black River
• Lower Santee River (Below the Lakes to the coast)
  including Wambaw Creek
• Lower Savannah River
• Salkehatchie River
• Waccamaw River
• Sections of Great and Little Pee Dee Rivers/Bull
  Cr.

7
Identifying the Swallow-tailed Kite

• The STKI is perhaps the most easily identifiable
  bird in South Carolina.
• It is unmistakable which allows people of all
  birding skill levels to be a monitoring
  volunteer.

8
White head, belly, underwing and undertail coverts
Black tail and flight feathers
4 Wingspan (Approx. 50 inches)
Deeply Forked Tail
Photo By William Hull www.mangoverde.com
Body Length 2 (Approx. 21 inches)
9
The Important Things to Note

• How many birds did you see?
• Location? (GPS Coordinates are best!)
• Time of day?
• Type of Behavior?
• The following slides demonstrate some common
  behaviors

10
Soaring and Flapping

• Soaring is the most common behavior for a Kite.
  The bird will use its tail to steer and will move
  it frequently. Flapping, as in flapping wings,
  is an important behavior to note. It means the
  Kite is heading somewhere with a purpose. Try to
  observe a flapping Kite for as long as possible.

11
Carrying Nest Material
A Kite with nest building material will usually
be flying with a purpose (flapping) towards the
nest. Follow the Kites flight path and see if
you can note where it lands. The material is
usually cypress twigs and/or Spanish Moss.
12
Midair Feeding
Kites will eat on the wing as pictured above,
usually insects. However during nesting season a
mated pair will carry food items (snakes,
lizards, chicks) back to the nest. If you spot a
Kite carrying food and flying with a purpose,
note the direction the Kite is traveling and
observe as long as possible.
13
The Third Bird Phenomenon

• An extra Kite often associates with a mated
  pair of Kites. Look for multiple birds when a
  sighting is made. There may even be more than
  three.
• The third bird is usually a young male around 1
  year of age.
• It is important to always note how many birds you
  observe. More than two birds could be an
  indicator of a nesting pair.

14
The Nesting Site

• Kites will reuse nests and nesting areas from
  year to year
• On the survey you may be fortunate enough to
  actually spot a nest. Record all of the
  information you can!
• Remember our ultimate goal in not only to learn
  about Kites but to help protect their habitat

15
Nesting Tree Clues

• The nest tree will probably be taller than other
  trees surrounding it.
• It could be, among others, a Loblolly Pine or
  Bald Cypress.
• It is usually very straight with an open canopy
  (for easy access by the Kites).
• The nest will be located along the main trunk of
  the tree near the top.
• Record a GPS coordinate of the tree if you can or
  establish a heading from your location on the
  river.

16
OBSERVING THE ACTUAL NEST
The nest is composed of twigs covered in mosses,
usually Spanish Moss and Grandfathers Beard.
Look for the clump of the lighter colored nest
among the darker vegetation of the tree.
17
What if I See a Kite After the Survey?

• Kite monitoring never stops! If you see one
  after the three-day census report it!
• Report all sightings (and behaviors) using the
  same form you were given during the census.
• Fax it or call it in to the International Center
  for Birds of Prey at the number on the form or go
  online to www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org to
  report it.
• If you do not have GPS coordinates, use road
  crossings, bridges or other landmarks.
• Tell you friends and family about the SC
  Swallow-tailedKite monitoring effort!

18
THANK YOU!

• The SC Swallow-tailed Kite Working Group includes