The Nichols Hills Fire Department has provided manpower and equipment to aid in the retrieval of eggs and young of offending birds. Assistance from the City in dealing with problem birds has been very good. Consequently, a large percentage of the Kite complaints come from this area. The City of Nichols Hills, a part of Oklahoma City metropolitan area, has a very large nesting population of Kites. This gives the young birds a chance to be raised in the wild where they belong. Young Kites already hatched in problem nests are translocated to foster nests in the same way. Soon after the orphaned eggs have hatched, the young are translocated, by authorized members of the Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma, to "foster" Kite nests in areas receiving less human traffic. In the Oklahoma City area, Mississippi Kite eggs that have been removed from a problem nest are taken to the Oklahoma City Zoo for placement in an incubator. In some instances this involves the removal of a kite's nest, eggs, or young which takes away the stimulus for parental defensive aggression. Whenever feasible, Service Personnel visit the area and take what action they deem necessary to correct the problem. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel to respond to citizen complaints concerning Kites that are causing problems. It is unlawful for private citizens to harm these birds or their nests. However, they are protected by federal and state law. Mississippi Kites are not an endangered species. While Mississippi Kites often nest in city parks or neighborhoods that receive heavy human traffic, only a few of the Kites ever "harass" people in defending their young. This diving behavior is a short-lived phenomenon, generally occurring only in July and August. This is an attempt by the birds to chase people, that they perceive to be a threat to their young, away from the nest site. After the eggs hatch and while the young Kites are in the nest, a small percentage f the adult Kites will dive at humans that get too close to the nest tree. Mississippi Kites occasionally come into conflict with people during the nesting season. In this respect, they are very beneficial to man. In the fall, Mississippi Kites migrate to South America where they spend the winter.Īlthough Mississippi Kites are known to eat mice, frogs, lizards, and small birds, the majority of their diet is composed of insects, especially grasshoppers. During the spring and summer these kites are found nesting in scattered locations throughout the southern half of the United States. They are commonly found in cities and towns. Mississippi Kites are one of the few North American hawks that will nest in close proximity to humans.
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