Snail Kite

Not sure if this is the appropriate location for this post ...

While putting together a list of objectives for 2004 I came across a reading about the Snail Kite and became very curious to know more.
Has anyone had the fortune of photographing a Snail Kite? If not has anyone any plans to do so?

I would love to plan a trip specific to photographing a Snail Kite if the ability to do so still exists -- I guess that would depend on the availability in Apple Snails.

As I recall, Greg got a great shot of one and there have been several posted in various places on the net. I though Greg had the shot in his Bosque slide show too.

I think Jim Urbach posted a flight shot a few months ago taken some place in central Florida.

E.J. Peiker wrote:As I recall, Greg got a great shot of one and there have been several posted in various places on the net. I though Greg had the shot in his Bosque slide show too.

I believe Greg only did slides from Bosque -- the Snail Kite, as far as I know, is only located at the tip of Florida.

The research I did involved data that dates 5 to 10 years -- anyone know their numbers today? Any better ? Any worse ?

You or anyone else up for a trip to photograph these magnificent looking birds ?

I have a few shots of Snail Kites from the 80's when I lived down there. The area around the entrance to Shark Valley on the n. side of the Glades was usually pretty good for them. I believe there are still plenty (relative term) around.

Now living 'Back Home in Indiana'

Greg's image in the slide show is of a Swallow-tailed Kite from Eco Pond in the Everglades.

We have spotted Snail Kites looking for food at ponds in different areas of Florida, but I know I don't personally have any photos yet. Not sure about Greg.

I believe that Alex has posted at least one Snail Kite image.

Brian,
You can sometimes see and photograph the kites just west of the entrance to the Shark Valley section of the Everglades. You can sometimes get good shots and flight ops from the parking lot of the resteraunt run by the local indians there but sometimes they may toss you out or ask for money to stay. When in the area I have gone in for a meal and then shot from the lot. I have seen as many as 25 at one time there! They can also be seen on Lake Kissimmee but the lake is huge and the kites move around from year to year.

Here are a few shots of the kites I got there a couple of years ago.

http://www.fatrobin.com/Snail3.htm
http://www.fatrobin.com/Snail2.htm

Wow Jim those shots are awesome ... what is the best time of year to get a view?

Here's the scoop directly from our Tropical Audubon Society website:
"In winter, Snail Kites are easy to find at the Shark Valley section of Everglades National Park, 18 miles west of Miami on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail). They are often also flying over the marsh on the north side of the highway at the same location; try looking from the parking lot of the Miccosukee Indian Restaurant, or by the airboat concession just across the road from the Everglades Tower Motel a mile west of Shark Valley. You can also see them often from Alligator Alley in the trees on the north side of the highway."
We seldom go to the back of the restaurant these days, finding them fairly reliable at the old airboat concession. Alex has posted Snail Kites in the past, including one in flight! Jim, your images are excellent!!

Those are fantastic Jim!!!

I will be spending Spring of 2005 living in the Everglades area to work on an independent project for school that will hopefully turn itself into a book (more details later) and Snail Kite is one bird I plan to have a large focus on. I know of a couple places to see them but have not seen one anywhere close to me since I started photographing. I think their numbers are rising but that is just a gut feel, no idea on actual stats.

Drew

While Snail Kites can be found and photographed in the everglades very successfully, there are likely more of them in central Florida. If you are already in the everglades area I would try the place near shark valley, but it isn't worth a trip just for that because you will not be able to spend much time there. Most people I know that are serious about photographing just them will rent a boat and go out on one of the big lakes in central Florida, such as Jim mentioned, in early March.

Great shots Jim, I remember them well!

P.S. very few of my images were from Bosque. Heather is right, it was a Swallow-tailed Kite, also posted here back in September: http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=936

Greg Downing wrote:
P.S. very few of my images were from Bosque. Heather is right, it was a Swallow-tailed Kite, also posted here back in September: http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=936

I remember that one -- sweet one Greg.