Taking a dive Don’t mess with Mississippi kites

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  • Provided Mississippi Kites are known to dive-bomb people because they feel threatened are their protecting their young in the nests.
  • This map shows the migratory patterns of the Mississippi Kite. Weatherford sits in the middle of where the bird nests in the summertime. Provided
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A Mississippi Kite, which has narrow, pointed wings and is graceful in flight and also is known as the bird people dive bombs you daily while in their yards and are often mistaken for hawks.

If this is happening, they have moved into trees or view people as a threat to their nest. Weatherford police cannot do anything unless there is an injured bird or a young Kite falls from the nest. If this happens, do not attempt try to grab the bird as they have razor sharp claws. If someone finds an injured bird or a young bird which is unable to fly, contact the Oklahoma Game Wardens or call the Weatherford Police Department for information.

Mississippi Kites are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which protects the birds, their eggs, and their nests (occupied or empty), from being moved or tampered with without the proper permits, so Weatherford police cannot get rid of the Kites.

“If possible, avoid the area where they are. If one finds an injured one, one can contact us or the Game Warden. If small Kites are injured, the game warden will remove them sometimes. It is something we have to deal with every year, but they will eventually move on in about two months when they migrate south for the winter. It also does not help Weatherford is in the hot spot of where Kites makes their nests,” Lt. Chris Cote said.

This can make the bird somewhat of a nuisance when it chooses to roost in populated urban spots such as golf courses or schools. The birds protect their nests by diving at perceived threats, including humans. Staying at least 50 yards from nests is the best way to avoid conflict with the birds. If unavoidable, wearing a hat or waving hands in the air should prevent contact from being made but wAill not prevent the diving behavior.

Adult Mississippi Kites are gray with darker gray on their tail feathers and outer wings and lighter gray on their heads and inner wings. Males and females look alike, but the males are slightly paler on the head and neck. Young Kites have banded tails and streaked bodies.

Mississippi Kites nest in colonies and both parents, paired up before arriving at the nesting site incubate the eggs and care for the young. They have one clutch a year which takes 30-32 days to hatch. A clutch is a group of eggs produced by birds, amphibians, or reptiles, often at a single time, particularly those laid in a nest.

The young birds leave the nest another 30-35 days after hatching. Only about half of Kites successfully raise their young. Clutches fall victim to storms and predators such as raccoons and great horned owls. Because of the reduced amount of predators in urban areas, Mississippi Kites produce more offspring in urban areas than rural areas. They have an average lifespan of 8 years.