I've had large number over Ark City during summers previously, 20-30, usually on calm late afternoons when birds are soaring in search of high-flying insects, ex. odonates. It could be weather related, but also insect emergence I suspect. Most of the injured bird reports are 2nd yr birds, though there were a few juveniles (seemed earlu) I saw on a post, or someone sent me and asked.
Gene
Eugene A. Young
Agriculture and Biological Sciences
1220 E. Grand, PO Box 310
Tonkawa, OK, 74653-0310
Phone: 580-628-6482
Fax: 580-628-6209
E-Mail: <Eugene.Young...>
Website: www.noc.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> On Behalf Of Max Thompson
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2026 1:15 PM
To: <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Kite kettles
I am not sure what is going on with the Mississippi kites. I saw a fairly large kettle over Winfield the other day. I know we had a big windstorm the other night that blew bird nests out of trees and maybe the kites lost their nests i'm not sure. It is certainly uncharacteristic of them to be kettles this size this early. There were quite a number of them sitting on power lines this morning. We do not expect that this time of year either.Max Thompson
On Monday, June 22, 2026 at 07:33:37 AM CDT, mike rader <mike_rader...> wrote:
Jim,
I was leaving Pratt last Thursday and had over 50 between town and Iuka over a harvested wheat field. Seems early to me as well as there are not likely juveniles out yet like we see later in the summer.
Mike Rader
Pratt, KS
________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of James Nickel <jbnickelk2a...>
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2026 6:56 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Kite kettles
Yesterday, Becky and I were bicycling from home to Walton, and back. In between we saw a couple of Mississippi Kite groups soaring. They were both visible from the same spot. I estimated the combined groups were around 40-60 birds. I don’t ever remember seeing Kites in this large of groups, this time of year. Have other people had this experience? It seems irregular. Jim Nickel Peabody, Ks Sent from my iPad For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to
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