323 Lester Road, Apopka, Florida 32712, United States
Kites
Keelee - MISSISSIPPI KITE HATCHED 2017
KeeLee was found on the road with an old poorly-healed fracture of her right wing and her plumage was infested with feather mites. Her injury was severe and she is not able to be released to the wild. Keelee was a first year bird when she came to ARC so we were able to witness her dramatic transformation from juvenile to adult. Juvenile Mississippi Kites looks dramatically different than adults. As juveniles, the kites are white, grey, and brown mottled/streaked bodies with banded tails. Adult Mississippi Kites have grey bodies with darker wings. Keelee was a beautiful juvenile, and she became a beautiful adult!
ARAÉS - SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
Araés was admitted to ARC in May of 2022 to be evaluated for possible release. This adult kite had sustained an injury to his right shoulder of unknown origin that caused the wing to droop. After several weeks of observation, it became obvious that Araés’ limited flight abilities would not allow him to successfully live in the wild and make the arduous 10,000 annual migratory journey to Brazil. So ARC became his new home.
Moose- Mississippe Kite- Hatched 2023
Moose was a nestling when he fell from his nest in late June of 2023. Upon initial examination, he weighed only 110 grams and was mildly dehydrated. No significant injuries were noted, but he seemed familiar with people, an early warning sign of imprinting. Every effort was made to reverse this behavior but unfortunately, Moose continued exhibiting signs of habituation to humans. This makes him unreleasable as he would most likely rely on people to locate food rather than hunt on his own. Mississippi Kites undergo a dramatic plumage change as they mature and we have enjoyed watching Moose grow into his adult plumage.