isaacgreen.org / Mississippi Kite

This baby Mississippi Kite (MIKI) was found in Summerville, SC after the pine tree its nest was in was cut down. Unfortunately, it wasn't until a while after the tree was cut down that the baby was found. The tree crews continued to use heavy equipment in the area for a few hours after the baby was found and before I arrived. It is possible it had siblings, but I was unable to locate them. He was in good condition and very feisty. One of the parents was flying overhead calling. So, it seemed reasonable that placing the bird in an artificial nest platform would be successful.

A nest platform was placed in a nearby tree, as shown in the photo below. Erin was very helpful in holding the ladder for me even though she was standing in a yellow jacket nest! We both ended up with some stings. Note the pile of tree trunks in the foreground. Unfortunately, despite the parents circling and calling for days, they never came down to care of the baby. It was eventually recovered from the nest platform and taken to the clinic where is died a few days later. I wish this story had a happier ending, but it is still instructive. If you are planning on having trees removed, please try to do so outside of active nesting season, and if you can't do that, try to do (or have your tree removal service) do a through survey for nests.