Swallow-tailed kite spotted in area

Last Sunday evening (Aug. 14) I received a telephone call from Dave Dawson, of Long Island, who reported a swallow-tailed kite in Campbell County. He and his friend, George Shipp, had been fishing at a small pond near Gladys when they noticed an unusual bird. Dave had realized that this species is not one that we would expect to see here and went back to look for it again on Sunday. The weather was not good that day and he couldn’t relocate the bird, but called me anyway to report the previous day’s sighting.

In spite of the fact that he hadn’t seen the bird on Sunday, I made arrangements to meet him at the site Monday afternoon. Dave took me out to the field where not one, but two, swallow-tailed kites were swooping over the weedy grasslands. It was the first record for our area and only the fifth Piedmont record for the entire state.

This is a beautiful bird, about two feet long with a wingspan of four feet, distinctive in bold black and white plumage with a long, forked tail. It is fairly common in Florida and breeds as far north as South Carolina. These birds are long-distance migrants, spending the winter season in Brazil. Occasionally, after nesting, both the young birds and adults will disperse and wander north. Word spread about our unusual visitors and by Tuesday birders from around the state began to appear in Gladys.

It was noticed that one of the birds appeared to have some sort of radio telemetry antenna on its back, and this immediately created quite a stir. Who had tagged this bird and where had it originated? Some diligent searching of the Internet revealed that swallow-tailed kites are being studied to the south of us and with the help of photographs taken by one of our local residents, Cole Poindexeter, and a birder from northern Virginia, Larry Meade, we were able to answer these questions.

The Avian Research and Conservation team, headed by Ken Meyer, had tagged the kite as a nestling during the summer of 2009 in South Carolina. So, one of the birds soaring over the fields near Gladys is two years old and has twice made a round-trip journey to Brazil.

Of course, a number of questions remain unanswered. Why did the birds show up at this particular spot? What is the attraction that is causing them to remain in the area? (At the time of this writing, the birds have been present for seven days.) Are they likely ever to return here? These vagrants who wander out of their range are the classic mystery wrapped in an enigma. One thing is certain. At some point, they will turn toward the south, heading for Brazil, with nothing more than feathers and a few close friends to help them on their way.

News and notes

The nighthawk migration is already under way across Virginia. Flocks have been reported both to the north and west of us. These birds are usually seen near dusk as they feed over brightly lit urban areas or move toward the east along the James River.

The Appalachian Trail Club will sponsor a seven mile hike along the Henry Lanum Loop Trail on Sunday morning. This hike crosses the top of Mount Pleasant and provides some great views as you reach the summit. Call (434) 946-7084 for more information.