Returning to Columbia after two weeks in Colorado, I hoped to encounter Mississippi kites, back from their own journey to South America. I did not have to wait long.
Late this afternoon and despite a gusty wind, two of the kites cavorted over our neighborhood, diving low to snare insects on or near the treetops. As I reported last year, Mississippi kites have become increasingly common in central Missouri and, in fact, one is whistling from a nearby tree as I write this post.
We'll enjoy their presence (and their service) throughout the warmer months and, at least in my case, take special pleasure in watching their aerial maneuvers. Wind or no wind, their flight skills are a joy to behold.
