Posted by Jim Harris on March 16, 2003 at 12:30:22:
At 11:00 a.m., this date, I observed five Swallow-tailed Kites on Marvin Lane (one block south of Sterling) in Davie, off SW 148 Ave. There was a large number of dragonflies in the air and they seem to be feeding. Last year one of the kites that hatched, had a short right tail, and I observed one of these five kites with a short right tail. At the end of Marvin Lane (only one block) I saw two short tailed hawks at a higher level than the kites. One of the kites went out to the area of the hawks, and one of the hawks took exception and dove on the kite. As the hawk got near, the kite turned sharply and the hawk broke off the attack. The hawk then joined it mate and left the area. soaring towards the east. I was in the area for an hour and the kites were soaring or resting on pine branches during the entire time. I attempted to find last year's nest, however, I was unable to with the new growth in the pine trees. As I was leaving, I observed a pair of the kites on top of a pine doing what all birds do in the Spring (and it was not nest building).
Jim Harris
Davie