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Kites

All of our birds can be sponsored through the Adopt-a-Bird program. Find out how you can make these magnificent birds a part of your family!


Willow

Willow
Swallow Tailed Kite
Adopt

Willow fractured her right hip in a fall from her nest when she was just eight weeks old. With this type of fracture, surgical repair is not possible and a young bird's bones heal very quickly. Although healing appeared to be complete, Willow will never have the strength and endurance required for the lengthy, arduous annual migration to Brazil and back (a distance of over 6,000 miles!) that this species makes every year.

Insects are a large part of the diet of this species and Willow enjoys eating crickets and grasshoppers from the falconer's glove. We have a wonderful group of teen volunteers who patiently catch wild crickets and grasshoppers in the fields surrounding ARC. When they approach Willow bearing one of these morsels, she excitedly pumps her wings and chirps softly in anticipation of the special treat.

She loves to perch in the sun and at the slightest breeze she spreads her wings wide and "rides" the air currents. Willow will occasionally flap gently and float above the perch for several seconds.

Willow is a joy to work with on the falconer's glove as she sits demurely and almost seems to strike a pose when someone with a camera approaches.
 

Scooter

Scooter
Swallow Tailed Kite
Adopt

Separated from her parents as an early age, Scooter became imprinted on the humans who were caring for her.  Unable to grow up with role models of her own species, she did not develop the necessary hunting and survival skills to live successfully in the wild.  She must remain in captivity where she will be provided with food and kept safe from situations she would not recognize as dangerous.

Like her fellow kite and mewmate Willow, Scooter loves to perch in the sun and will also spread her wings wide to ride the wind. Kites are sun lovers and Scooter would probably bask in the Florida sun until she was overcome with heat exhaustion if her handler would allow it.
 
When perched on display in the pavilion, Scooter is very observant of her surroundings.  She is fascinated by the insects that buzz by and crawl around her and when the breeze blows the grass, she jumps off her perch and begins to play with a blade of grass, running it through her beak and then snapping it off close to the ground.  The volunteers joke about her being a would-be gardener, always pulling weeds!
 
Scooter loves to drink water but is very persnickety and wants the bowl set atop her perch.  She will then hop on the edge of the bowl and stand very still staring down into the water for several minutes before finally bending down to slowly take several long sips. 

 



Adopting of one of our education raptors will help fund their care and feeding as well as to support our vital rehabilitation efforts. Please visit Adopt-a-Bird to learn more about this program and how you can help.




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