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