I spent an hour-plus looking for/at the Springfield Mississippi Kites this
afternoon. Saw some new things. Bob Augustine had originally reported two
adult and one sub-adult bird. When I was there two days ago, I saw three
adult birds: One had no wing molt; one had one wing molt; one had molt in
both wings. When I went today,
 I initially saw three kites soaring together up quite high. They all
appeared to be adults with no wing molt.  Later I saw the adult with  the
double wing molt ( that makes four adults in my book).  *AND, I also saw
(twice in the scope, good views, no ID questions) a hatching-year juvenile
kite. * I saw it once in a tree with the adult in the same scope field. This
means that there was almost certainly a Mississippi  kite nesting in the
area this year. It also means that there are at least five kites in the
area. If one adds the single-wing molt bird I saw two days ago, that makes a
possible six kites about .  I saw the double-wing molt adult come into a
snag at least twice to feed the juvenile.  The juvenile is fully fledged and
flies well.  I have not seen a sub-adult bird ( could there seven total
birds??)
I think the double-wing molt bird may be the male as Brian Wheeler (Raptors
of Eastern North America, p-111, plate 76, text) notes that males begin molt
in Aug. and Sept.  Also, I saw the non-molt adult spread it's wing (in the
scope) and did not see any of the rufous on the primaries that most male
kites have. It was all very interesting. If you want to see the birds you
need to call Bob Augustine 301-933-5970 for directions, per his request. (
He does NOT have E-mail).  If you go to see the birds, look in the back yard
of 8702, for a large leafless snag behind the other trees. That is where the
kites were perched and feeding.
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.