ON OUTDOORS: THE TIME IS RIGHT TO WATCH KITES FLY OVER THE MISSISSIPPI

This is a great time of year to bird watch on the big river. I can take a short walk in downtown Cape to see one of my favorite birds -- the Mississippi kite.

Some of you out there know kites only as a toy for windy days, but there really is a bird known as a kite. Kites are graceful birds of prey that are easily seen near the Mississippi River, and a short trip can put you in kite territory.

Kites are a light shade of grey with dark black wings and tail. They are about the size of a pigeon but built much lighter. You will need binoculars to get a good look at this bird. With assistance, you may notice that the sleek, grey head and dark beak are starkly contrasted with a bright red eye.

I think kites are handsome birds and cannot help gawking whenever I see one.

Most every kite I see is flying. Perhaps this is why they are called kites. I enjoy these graceful birds of prey as they dip, dart and zip after prey. Food for a kite consists of dragonflies, beetles, moths and flies. Kites often use their fan shaped tail as a rudder. To spot them, I look for pigeon sized birds that are sleeker and more graceful than a pigeon.

Sometimes a large flock of birds will ride warm air drafts. Windy days provide the best kite spotting potential. Groups of kites are called a kettle. Kettles can be pretty amazing. Eight to 10 kites dancing all at once is spellbinding to behold. One of my most memorable sightings was a kettle of kites numbering 25 birds. Not only did they soar effortlessly, but they were cleaning up on the bugs as they did so.

Southeast Missouri is a summer home to kites. The attraction is found in big rivers with large bottomland forests. Cape Girardeau has bottomland forest close at hand. The Illinois side of the Mississippi River and areas up and down river, on the Missouri side, have this type of habitat.

Kites use lowland forests to nest and raise their young. Cape Girardeau near their nesting ground and has plenty of bugs to attract them.

A challenge facing Mississippi Kites is the amount of forested habitat available. Today they are considered an uncommon site all over the state. Southeast Missouri is one the areas you can still see the kites because preferred habitat is still available. Land development is the biggest threat bottomland forest habitat because it threatens to take more of their breeding ground.

People interested in viewing Mississippi Kites have many options. Cape Girardeau's downtown riverfront and Cape Rock Park provide excellent opportunities.

The Conservation Department has three public areas for frequent kite sightings. Visit Juden Creek Conservation Area, Red Star River Access, and Apple Creek Conservation Area to get a chance at spotting a kite. Contact the Conservation Department regional office at (573) 290-5730 for directions or area maps. Trail of Tears State Park is another great location to see these grey raptors. Park overlooks provide the best locations to see a kite.

With a little effort you too can see Southeast Missouri's graceful summer bird of prey -- the Mississippi Kite.

A.J. Hendershott is an outreach and education regional supervisor with the Missouri Department of Conservation.