everglades snail kite path to extinction. description of snail kites photo courtesy of dr. wiley...
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Everglades Snail KiteEverglades Snail Kite
Path to Extinction
Description of Snail KitesDescription of Snail Kites
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
45 inch wingspan
14-16 inches long
Weighs 12-20 ounces
Brown with white streaks
Yellow legs
Red eyes
Female Snail Kite
Slate Grey
Red legs
Square tail with white base and black tip
Male Snail KiteMale Snail Kite
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Juvenile Snail KiteJuvenile Snail Kite
Cinnamon colored
Buff streaks
Brown eyes
Yellow legs
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Social StructureSocial Structure Form roosts of two to a few hundred
Flexible breeding efforts
Will migrate to better feeding areas
Photo courtesy of Wiley Kitchens
Feeding HabitsFeeding Habits
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Searching
For snails
Still Hunting
Only snails at surface are vulnerable
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
The Apple SnailThe Apple Snail
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Comes to surface infrequently
Breathes with gills and a lung
RangeRange
Photos courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
HabitatHabitat
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Marsh Habitat
Cypress Prairie Habitat
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Lake Okeechobee Habitat
Northern Lakes Habitat
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Peripheral HabitatPeripheral Habitat
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
NestingNesting
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Two-year olds
February-June
Acrobatics
NestsNests
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Males build nest
Nests made of sticks lined with leaves
Must be over water
2-4 spotted eggs
Incubate 27 days
Nest singly or colonies
Fledgling CareFledgling Care Fledge after 4 to
5 weeks
Parents feed even after fledging
May raise more than 1 brood
Parent desertionPhoto courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
StatusStatus
Federal Endangered Species Act
Migratory Bird Treaty Chapter 39, Florida
Administrative Code
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Threats to SpeciesThreats to Species
Threatened by habitat loss
Draining of the everglades
Loss of food supply
Population Decline
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Threats to SpeciesThreats to Species
Drought may potentially have an impact on population
Cause snail reduction Reproduction reduced
Photo courtesy of dr. Wiley Kitchens
WaterWater
Originated as agricultural runoff
Nitrogen and phosphorus
Altering habitatPhoto Courtesy of Dr, Wiley Kitchens
Water ImportanceWater Importance
Vegetation altered from flooding
Snails require long wet spells
Too long destroys nesting sites
May require areas with continuous flooding
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Management and Management and ConservationConservation
Maintain water quality and quantity
Decrease nutrient runoff Important to conserve water Optimize apple snail populations Control exotic species Prevent human disturbance
ResearchResearch
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
ResearchResearch
Winter surveys Colored leg
bands Radio
transmitters
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
ResearchResearch Nesting failure Predation,
collapse and abandonment
Placed in cattails Less frequent in
Everglades More frequent in
Lake habitatsPhoto courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
How You Can HelpHow You Can HelpHow You Can HelpHow You Can Help
Encourage Wetland ConservationEncourage Wetland Conservation
Conserve Water ResourcesConserve Water Resources
Support Establishment of Support Establishment of Wetland PreservesWetland Preserves
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Encourage Green Lawn Encourage Green Lawn Management Management
Report Any Harassment of Report Any Harassment of Snail KitesSnail Kites
Lakeland 1-800-282-8002
West Palm Beach 1-800-432-2046
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley kitchens
SummarySummary
Snail kites are medium size hawks Communal roosting and nesting Feed on apple snails by skimming surface Range is in a few areas of south Florida Draining of everglades impacted
population Encourage conservation of wetlands and
water Encourage no-pesticide lawn management
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Developed by: AprilWeaver and Dr. Mark Hostetler, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida
In conjunction with: Dr. Wiley Kitchens, U.S.G.S., Florida Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens