Snail Kite

Christmas, Florida, United States

Transpantaneira, Pocon, Mato Grosso, BRAZIL

One snack at a time... gotta pace yourself.Snail KiteAKA Everglade Snail Kite AKA Florida Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisLa Chua TrailPaynes Prairie Preserve State ParkAlachua County, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIIOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens 27 June 2021#1stPixFeathersinaturalist: Species gridPhil's 1stPix on iNaturalist

Transpantaneira, Pocon, Mato Grosso, BRAZIL

The Snail Kite has evolved to feed almost entirely on freshwater apple snails. Kites hunt from above, dropping down to pluck them out of the water.It's always nice to have a limb nearby to snack on.Snail KiteAKA Everglade Snail Kite AKA Florida Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisLa Chua TrailPaynes Prairie Preserve State ParkAlachua County, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIIOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens 27 June 2021inaturalist: Species gridPhil's 1stPix on iNaturalist

Their story is certainly a unique one: Snail Kites were listed as endangered in 1967. As their habitat continued to dwindle, so did their range, and population.More recently, the arrival of the invasive Giant Apple Snail spread throughout Florida. Hurricane Irma scattered them all over the Paynes Prairie basin.So the kites followed the snails ...the population has subsequently skyrocketed in only a few years. Then this juvenile flew past and landed right in front of me to pause and devour some lunch. The rest is history.Snail KiteAKA Everglade Snail Kite AKA Florida Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisLa Chua TrailPaynes Prairie Preserve State ParkAlachua County, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIIOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens 27 June 2021inaturalist: Species gridPhil's 1stPix on iNaturalist

Florida, United States

Lake Wales, Florida

Christmas, Florida, United States

Pocon, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Transpantaneira, Pocon, Mato Grosso, BRAZIL

Pocon, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Transpantaneira, Pocon, Mato Grosso, BRAZIL

Transpantaneira, Pocon, Mato Grosso, BRAZIL

Pocone, Mato Grosso, Brazil

I was thrilled when what I thought was a hawk landed right in front of me to chow down on a what I couldn't see at the time was a snail snack.I happened across an article that advised they were making a big comeback in Paynes Prairie. I hoped I'd come across one. Little did I know, we had already met.Snail KiteAKA Everglade Snail Kite AKA Florida Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisLa Chua TrailPaynes Prairie Preserve State ParkAlachua County, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIIOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens 27 June 2021#1stPixFeathersinaturalist: Species gridPhil's 1stPix on iNaturalist

Transpantaneira, Pocon, Mato Grosso, BRAZIL

Florida, United States

Pocone, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Christmas, Florida, United States