^""Is^^^l Barlow, Nesthig Habits of White-tailed Kite. 1 5 



ing grounds, and the White-tailed Kite is found scattered in pairs 

 at suitable locations throughout the county. 



It has been my pleasure to spend considerable time during the 

 past few years in observing the nesting habits of several pairs of 

 Kites, distributed at various points throughout the county, and 

 the results tend to show considerable individuality in the respec- 

 tive pairs of birds. The White-tailed Kite being of unquestion- 

 able benefit, is deserving of the fullest protection, and in one 

 locality at least I know that its usefulness is appreciated by the 

 farmers. Its principal food in this section consists of small 

 rodents, such as gophers, field mice and wood rats, lizards and 

 probably in season a few grasshoppers. Mr. Henry W. Carriger, 

 of Sonoma, Cal., who has had considerable experience with this 

 bird, writes me of finding a freshly-killed ground squirrel lodged 

 in a tree beneath a nest, and which had undoubtedly been captured 

 by one of the Kites. This is probably larger game than they 

 attack as a rule. 



With the gradual settling up of the country there is no doubt 

 but that this bird is becoming rarer each year. They are essen- 

 tially birds of the valley and are rarely seen in the foothills and 

 mountains. One pair which I have known for years and which 

 had never failed to nest in a particular growth of live oaks each 

 year, was missed from its accustomed haunts the past spring and 

 could not be located anywhere in the vicinity. A wood choppers' 

 camp had been erected in the grove and the Kites, in their gentle 

 and unsuspecting nature, had probably fallen prey to the gun of 

 some misguided wood chopper. 



Their flight is even and graceful, often quite rapid but lacking 

 the dash of the true Falcons. In hunting in the early morning 

 hours both birds often go together, and they may frequently be 

 seen hovering motionless in air, much after the manner of the 

 Sparrow Hawk. The principal note consists of a low, plaintive, 

 musical whistle, quite pleasing to the ear, and which is uttered 

 both when the bird is at rest on some tree top and occasionally 

 while it is on the wing in the vicinity of its nest. 



With few exceptions I have found this Kite nesting in level 

 or slightly rolling country where the live oak is abundant. A 

 pair of these birds will take up their abode in a favored location 



