Date: 4/11/26 1:41 am From: Drew Haffenden via groups.io <andrew...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
These kites have two routes, one (smaller) is island hopping via Caribbean islands to FL peninsula and the majority circum-gulf. Neither routes are trans-gulf and as an eastern breeding circum-gulf migrant spring migrants would be expected to be traveling east.
Cheers,
Drew Haffenden
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From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 6:52:09 AM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of southern AL.
One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere.
Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min.
If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird.
There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the skywatch as well.
