Poised in Grace, Purposeful in Survival

Photo by Bryan Stone


There are several nesting pairs of Mississippi Kites in the Woodway area near Waco. I first encountered these benevolent looking raptors in Lawton, OK and have been fascinated by them ever since. John Strecker, for whom the Strecker Museum at Baylor University is named, studied these birds extensively. Their big red eyes, pointed wings, and seemingly effortless flight are characteristic. These birds capture insects in flight and the prey is often eaten while soaring. Mississippi Kites are gregarious. They will sometimes nest in small colonies and hunt in flocks of many pairs.