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More on kites



Cbirders,

Like the dozen or so other birders I ran into north of Riegelwood today, I 
got to see both kite species.  I encourage the rest of you to go soon.  You do 
not need to risk your life in the rain-swollen Cape Fear River or on the narrow 
and busy Hwy 11 bridge.  The sight of ten swallow-taileds hunting low over a 
hay field at 50 yards was incredible.  A couple of times a s-t kite flew 
directly overhead at about 50 feet.  I have seen kites many times before, but never 
in North Carolina, never so many, and never at such close range.

Here are some details to help future kite seekers.  From Elizabethtown, Lock 
& Dam #1 is about 25 miles south, just off Hwy 87.  The picnic tables on the 
bluff above the boat ramp provide a great vantage point for looking up and down 
river.  (Ignore the closed signs.  The lock keeper said he did not mind 
birders using the facility.)  Birders last week saw the swallow-taileds from this 
spot, but those of us there this afternoon did not.  We did see (several times) 
one Mississippi kite, an anhinga, a great egret, a turkey vulture, a black 
vulture, and several purple martins, r-t hummingbirds, chimney swifts, etc.

About 1.2 miles south on Hwy 87 from the Lock & Dam turn there is an old 
produce stand/store and a house with a red tin roof on the left side of the road.  
Across from the produce stand is a hay field; the Bladen/Columbus County line 
runs through the south end of the field on the right side of the highway and 
through the house's side yard on the left.  The kites were flying over the 
field and the produce stand.  There were so many kites that there were often 
several flying on both sides of the highway in both counties.  Mostly they hunted 
over the field and the trees at its south end.    

I talked with the Sleepy Dickson, the proprietor of the produce stand.  He 
did not mind our setting up in his parking lot.  That several of us bought 
drinks and produce from him probably did not hurt the relationship.  After learning 
about the kites, his only concern was that no one would harm them.

Good luck.  Treat yourself to a cold drink and a ripe tomato, peach or 
watermelon while you are there.  

Hal Broadfoot Jr.
Fayetteville, NC
halwb@aol.com