Coalition Supports Swallow-tailed Kite Research to Improve Habitat and Sustainable Forest Management in South Carolina

The Avian Research and Conservation Institute has partnered with, among others, International Paper, the American Bird Conservancy, Resource Management Service (RMS), Forest Investment Associates (FIA) and White Oak Forest Management, to support the study of Swallow-tailed Kite habitat use in South Carolina. 

This broad coalition of companies that purchase wood fiber, the land owners who actively manage their forests, and conservation organizations that provide expertise and guidance is an excellent example of the cooperation and coordination needed to ensure our forests can support the future needs of wildlife, local communities, and the economy.

To understand their use of sustainable forests, three Swallow-tailed Kites were fitted with solar-powered GSM/GPS transmitters near International Paper’s mill in Georgetown, S.C. on forests owned by RMS and FIA.  

Over the next several years, the activity and locations of these three birds will be recorded and analyzed to further understand their specific habitats used for nesting, foraging, and roosting.  These data will be critical to further improving the sustainable forest management techniques used by land owners that supply wood fiber to International Paper (Swallow-tailed Kite Forest Management Recommendations for Forest Owners). By successfully managing and creating nesting and foraging habitat conditions for the Swallow-tailed Kite, countless other wildlife species that share the same habitat needs will also benefit.

In the coming weeks, the three Swallow-tailed Kites (referred to as Peter’s Creek, Carver’s Bay and Big Branch) will begin their migration to South America.  The birds most likely will travel south through Florida before departing for a risky flight across the Gulf of Mexico. The rest of their southbound migration will continue overland to wintering destinations in South America. We will provide updates on their progress, revealing how these Swallow-tailed Kites make their impressive migration to their winter homes.

We are grateful for Carol and Scott McKorkle of the Avian Reconditioning Center (ARC) for offering their Great Horned Owl and their volunteer Nicole Jones to make these captures possible.