Mississippi Kites are nesting in Maryland!

After years of steadily mounting evidence, we have very clear nesting confirmation this year in Rockville, Montgomery Co., Maryland. (Other nesting locations are likely.) Here's a photo of a Mississippi Kite on its nest in Montgomery Co., Maryland courtesy of Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved.

This rare but increasing spring migrant is now expected on favorable raptor migration days late April and May. As it increased as a breeder in the northeastern U.S., it became clear that nesting in Maryland was all but certain. They have a special affinity for hunting dragonflies on the wing and are certainly benefiting regionally from the periodical cicada (Magicicada) emergence.

And let's always remember why abundant insect biomass and biodiversity are important to MIKIs (great banding code) and other birds. Their incredible migrations require huge amounts of fuel and summer food supplies to fly from distant wintering grounds. That's why MBP is kicking off more targeted data collection efforts such as the Turkey Point Bird Count and new Summer Nocturnal Insect Surveys. We need a LOT more data to ensure we can protect the world's biodiversity and great natural spectacles.

And where will these Mississippi Kites go after breeding in Rockville or Oklahoma or Georgia? Why, all the way to central South America! Switch this eBird map filter from year-round to June-July and then to December-February to see reports focused around Paraguay and northern Argentina.

Amazing! Neotropical migrants aren't OUR birds that "fly south for the winter." They're tropical birds that visit for a bountiful breeding season, and that bounty is, for most species, insects! Let's ensure these epic migrations remain worth their while! Birds need biodiversity.

Thankfully, all insect eaters are pretty much covered every 17 years thanks to our region's Magicicada emergence and overwhelming protein extravaganza.

Here's to everyone having any easy summer after this last year!

More at Maryland Biodiversity Project:
https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/1002

Bill