Download Everglades Snail Kite - Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Everglades Snail Kite
Path to Extinction
Description of Snail Kites
45 inch
wingspan
 14-16 inches
long
 Weighs 12-20
ounces

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Female
Snail Kite
Male Snail
Kite
Slate Grey
Brown with
white streaks
Red legs
Yellow legs
Square tail
with white
base and black
tip
Red eyes
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Juvenile Snail Kite
 Cinnamon colored
 Buff streaks
 Brown eyes
 Yellow legs
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Social Structure
 Form roosts of two to a few hundred
 Flexible breeding efforts
 Will migrate to better feeding areas
Photo courtesy of Wiley Kitchens
Feeding Habits
Searching
For snails
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Still Hunting
Only snails at
surface are
vulnerable
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
The Apple Snail
Comes to surface
infrequently
Breathes with
gills and a lung
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Range
Photos courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Habitat
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Marsh Habitat
Cypress Prairie
Habitat
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Lake Okeechobee
Habitat
Northern Lakes Habitat
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Peripheral Habitat
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Nesting
Two-year olds
February-June
Acrobatics
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Nests
 Nest singly or colonies
 Males build nest
 Nests made of sticks
lined with leaves
 Must be over water
 2-4 spotted eggs
 Incubate 27 days
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Fledgling Care
 Fledge after 4 to 5
weeks
 Parents feed even
after fledging
 May raise more
than 1 brood
 Parent desertion
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Status
Federal Endangered Species
Act
 Migratory Bird Treaty
 Chapter 39, Florida
Administrative Code

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Threats to Species
Population Decline



Threatened by
habitat loss
Draining of the
everglades
Loss of food supply
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Threats to Species



Drought may potentially have an
impact on population
Cause snail reduction
Reproduction reduced
Photo courtesy of dr. Wiley Kitchens
Water

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
Originated as
agricultural
runoff
Nitrogen and
phosphorus
Altering habitat
Photo Courtesy of Dr, Wiley Kitchens
Water Importance
Vegetation altered
from flooding
 Snails require long
wet spells
 Too long destroys
nesting sites
 May require areas
with continuous
flooding

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Management and
Conservation





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Maintain water quality and
quantity
Decrease nutrient runoff
Important to conserve water
Optimize apple snail populations
Control exotic species
Prevent human disturbance
Research
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Research
Winter surveys
 Colored leg
bands
 Radio
transmitters

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Research





Nesting failure
Predation, collapse
and abandonment
Placed in cattails
Less frequent in
Everglades
More frequent in
Lake habitats
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
How You Can Help
Encourage Wetland
Conservation
Conserve Water
Resources
Support Establishment
of Wetland Preserves
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
Encourage Green Lawn
Management
Report Any
Harassment of Snail
Kites
Lakeland 1-800-282-8002
West Palm Beach 1-800-432-2046
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley kitchens
Summary

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
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Snail kites are medium size hawks
Communal roosting and nesting
Feed on apple snails by skimming surface
Range is in a few areas of south Florida
Draining of everglades impacted population
Encourage conservation of wetlands and
water
Encourage no-pesticide lawn management
Acknowledgements
Developed by: AprilWeaver and Dr. Mark Hostetler,
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS,
University of Florida
In conjunction with: Dr. Wiley Kitchens, U.S.G.S., Florida
Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens