A Rare Arrival at the Raptor Hospital

At Carolina Raptor Center, our Raptor Hospital cares for more than 20 species of raptors each year. Some species, like Red-shouldered Hawks and Barred Owls, are among our most common patients and together make up nearly 50% of our intakes. These familiar species can be found receiving care in our hospital throughout the year.

Other species are much rarer in the Charlotte area and are not commonly seen as patients at our hospital. That’s what made July 17th’s arrival of a Mississippi Kite such a special one.

Mississippi Kites are small raptors that migrate from South America to several regions throughout the southeastern United States. Their varied diet includes small mammals, insects, and lizards.

Patient #28037 arrived at the Raptor Hospital after falling from a nest. No parents had been seen nearby for more than 24 hours, and our hospital team knew this young bird needed help. Still covered in downy feathers across its head, legs, and parts of its body, the kite was far too young to survive on its own.

After nearly a month of care and rehabilitation, this young Mississippi Kite is almost ready to return to the wild!

Mississippi Kites typically begin their southward migration in late August and continue through September. With this young kite nearing release, the timing couldn’t be better. Soon, this rare visitor will hopefully take to the skies and begin its journey south.