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Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
Jaycee Park,
Ganado, Jackson Co., Texas
16 July 2018

Swallow-tailed Kite is a rare and local nesting species in the extreme S.E. corner of Texas. Recently a group of Swallow-tailed Kites was discovered in the small town of Ganado in Jackson Co., Texas. There are at least 8 individual birds in the area, and it has been speculated that nesting has occurred or is occurring now. This morning I went to Jaycee Park in Ganado and was able to take a number of images of these kites perched in a pecan tree. We were standing in a parking lot near some children on a playscape. One of the kites made a dive at me as can be seen in images 1 and 2. We spent most of the morning at this location and enjoyed watching these kites chase one another while vocalizing, feed on the wing (but we could never determine the prey items) and soar high overhead. A great photo opportunity.