August 2008, Greensboro, NC
photo ©  by Jason Gould

Mississippi Kite
photo © 2004 by Melissa Whitmire

Mississippi Kite feeding juvenile
photo © 2004 by Melissa Whitmire

    Three adult Mississippi Kites were first seen on Thursday, July 29, 2004, by birder Scott DePue while working in a Greensboro suburban neighborhood. He ID’d them (without binoculars!) and told Henry Link, who confirmed the sighting and informed other PBC birders. The first immature was seen the next day and, on the 5th of August, Melissa Whitmire spotted the second juvenile.
     Herb Hendrickson, an ornithologist, offers this expert opinion:
“To the best of my knowledge, these are the first Mississippi Kites recorded in Guilford County. The nearest known nesting site in recent times was in Laurinburg, NC, about four or five years ago. Mississippi Kites are one of the few birds of prey that are known to use "helpers." That may explain the presence of three adult-appearing birds.”
    There is little doubt according to Lynn Moseley and Herb Hendrickson that the kites hatched here because the immatures were very dependent when first seen, unable to fly and being fed frequently by the adults. This is an exciting find for local birders!

                                                                                                                                                                             -Emily Tyler, Louise Brown