Mississippi Kites have returned to Vance -- again

  • Published
  • By Zach Sproul
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  When you get out and about this spring and summer most likely you will hear a high-pitched squeak, sounding similar to that of a squeaky dog toy. Don't worry, you didn't step on a toy. What you heard was the call of the Mississippi Kite.

A small bird of prey in the raptor family, Mississippi Kites migrate from their tropical South American vacation spots to the Great Plains and Oklahoma each year starting in early May through late July. Vance AFB is one of their destinations

The kites' preferred habitants have changed over the past 75 years. The birds now nest not only in forests and savannas, but include shelter-belts and urban areas of all sizes in the western south-central states.

Mississippi Kites usually nest in the highest branches of a tree, well out of reach of predators. This helps protect their clutches from predators such as raccoons and Great Horned Owls. Because of the reduced amount of predators in urban areas, kites produce more offspring in urban areas than rural areas. This makes Enid and Vance AFB perfect nesting grounds for them.

While the Mississippi Kite is not an endangered species, it is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which protects the birds, their eggs, and their nests, whether occupied or empty, from being tampered with or moved without the proper permits. This protection can make the bird somewhat of a nuisance when it chooses to roost in populated urban spots.

When walking around base and you notice what appears to be a hawk hovering in the sky, it is the Mississippi Kite. It hovers while feeding on a band of insects in the air. The kite has long, narrow pointed wings, a long black tail, pearly gray head, a darker gray body and a pale patch on the rear edge of the wings.

Approaching an area with a nest can incite aggressive behavior such as diving at the trespasser's head. Staying at least 50 yards from nests is the best way to avoid conflict with the birds. When diving, kites will aim for the highest object near their target. If you are unable to avoid nesting areas, wearing a hat, carrying an umbrella, holding a large stick above your head or waving hands in the air should prevent the kite striking you. However, it won't prevent the diving behavior.

Fortunately, kites accustomed to being near humans, are less likely to attack because they are less likely to identify humans as predators. Small children are least likely to be attacked, because of height, although the tallest kid in a group would be the target.

The best precaution against an attack is simply to stay away from kite-inhabited areas if possible. Warning signs are posted on base to alert pedestrians. Vance AFB has 11 clearly marked locations with inhabited nests.

(Editor's note: The works of James Parker, Ph.D., a leading authority on the Mississippi Kite, were consulted in the research for this article.)