5.28.23 Homewood, IL

This post is in progress. Please see older posts for descriptive content. 

We stopped in Homewood to see mom's friend Nancy (and her 2 dogs!). She gave us basil, kale and dill! Ari and I are excited to have fresh dill. While we were talking to Nancy when my dad spotted a bird of prey. We rushed to get a better look and some pics. It was Mississippi kite!

--written by Ima and her family

Mississippi Kites are unusual raptors, eating mostly insects, with small reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals on the side.

While a lot of raptor nestlings may kill each other, Mississippi Kite nestlings will fix the nest together, and preen each other.

Mississippi Kites grab flighted prey from the air like this, with one or two feet.

Mississippi Kite yearlings will often seek out a breeding pair with a nest to help out with defending the nest, incubating the eggs, and brooding the chicks, or just watching. While the pair will often accept the help, they might just chase away the yearling.

Mississippi Kites like wasp nests and may seek out existing ones to nest near or incorporate the nest into theirs, as wasps will chase off climbing predators who could harm the chicks.

Smaller birds, like Northern Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, and House Sparrows, will nest near, or even on,  Mississippi Kites's nests.

Gray Catbird (note red butt feather)