Missippippi Kite review

[Harry Legrand <harry.legrand@ncmail.net>]

For the record, and for those new to NC:

The Mississippi Kite has been around the NC Coastal Plain, and suspected
of nesting, at least since the early 1970s. Numbers of 20-35 have been
seen for decades along the Roanoke river, particularly near Scotland
Neck. Smaller numbers have been found in more recent years along other
brownwater river floodplains -- Neuse River, lower and central Cape Fear
(even up to Lillington), Pee Dee in Richmond/Anson, Fishing Creek, etc.
They seem to be absent from blackwater floodplains, for the most part,
such as the Lumber River, Waccamaw River, etc. They also seem to be
absent from the brownwater Tar River, for some unknown reason.

Nests have been reported from the Laurinburg area, Roanoke Rapids,
Goldsboro, Johnston County at Howell Woods, and even "out-of-range" near
Newport in Carteret. The species is definitely increasing. The species
has been present in the Meherrin River floodplain in adjacent VA for a
number of years.
-- 
Harry LeGrand
NC Natural Heritage Program
1615 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1615
(919) 715-8687 (work)
FAX: 919-715-3085
e-mail: harry.legrand@ncmail.net