Featured Story
Ocala’s Urban Kestrels
The Southeastern American Kestrel lives primarily in Florida and parts of neighboring states. It is a state-threatened subspecies of the American Kestrel, North America’s smallest falcon. Kite Tales spoke with Simon Fitzwilliam, Avian Field Biologist at FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), to learn more about these tiny raptors and the work being done to monitor them.
Sandpipers of Florida
Sandpipers are a familiar sight on Florida’s beaches where these small, quick shorebirds are often seen probing the wet sand left by receding waves. But what exactly is a sandpiper, and which species might you see along Florida’s shores? Let’s take a closer look.
Rarities: What are they and what should you do if you find one?
In the birding world “rarities” are birds that are rare or unusual to spot, and few things delight birders more than finding one.
Jay Watch: How Community Science Helps Protect a Federally Threatened Bird
Jay Watch is a great opportunity for anyone to get involved in conservation. Volunteers map the territory of individual Scrub-jay families. Surveys are done from predetermined points to determine the boundaries of different family groups.
Swallow-Tailed Kite Nest Survival
Researchers recently located 132 Swallow-tailed Kite nests in southwest Florida and monitored their nests.
Release of the 1,000th Captive Bred Grasshopper Sparrow
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners began a captive breeding program in 2015. On July 16, 2024, this program celebrated the release of its 1,000th captive-bred Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.
Rooftop Nesting Shorebirds
Cameron Pressey, Rooftop Nesting Biologist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, answers some questions about this phenomenon for the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.