Everglades Snail Kite

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Everglades Snail Kite

• Path to Extinction

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Description of Snail Kites

• 45 inch wingspan
• 14-16 inches long
• Weighs 12-20 ounces

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Juvenile Snail Kite

• Cinnamon colored
• Buff streaks
• Brown eyes
• Yellow legs

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Social Structure

• Form roosts of two to a few hundred
• Flexible breeding efforts
• Will migrate to better feeding areas

Photo courtesy of Wiley Kitchens
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Feeding Habits
Searching For snails
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Still Hunting Only snails at surface are
vulnerable
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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The Apple Snail

• Comes to surface infrequently
• Breathes with gills and a lung

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Range
Photos courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Habitat
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Marsh Habitat Cypress Prairie Habitat
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Lake Okeechobee Habitat Northern Lakes
Habitat
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Peripheral Habitat
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Nesting

• Two-year olds
• February-June
• Acrobatics

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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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
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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
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Status

• Federal Endangered Species Act
• Migratory Bird Treaty
• Chapter 39, Florida Administrative Code

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Threats to Species
Population Decline

• Threatened by habitat loss
• Draining of the everglades
• Loss of food supply

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Threats to Species

• Drought may potentially have an impact on
  population
• Cause snail reduction
• Reproduction reduced

Photo courtesy of dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Water

• Originated as agricultural runoff
• Nitrogen and phosphorus
• Altering habitat

Photo Courtesy of Dr, Wiley Kitchens
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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
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Management and Conservation

• Maintain water quality and quantity
• Decrease nutrient runoff
• Important to conserve water
• Optimize apple snail populations
• Control exotic species
• Prevent human disturbance

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Research
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Research

• Winter surveys
• Colored leg bands
• Radio transmitters

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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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
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How You Can Help
Encourage Wetland Conservation
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Conserve Water Resources
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Support Establishment of Wetland Preserves

Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley Kitchens
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Encourage Green Lawn Management
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Report Any Harassment of Snail Kites
Lakeland 1-800-282-8002 West Palm Beach
1-800-432-2046
Photo courtesy of Dr. Wiley kitchens
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Summary

• 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

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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