2006 Rescue / Not Released / Education Bird

"Hunter"

This mature Mississippi Kite was shot in North Memphis and received rehabilitative care from MWR. Nobody saw the perpetrators; the authorities only suspect who did this horrible thing to a beautiful hawk. Due to the nature of her wounds, Hunter will never be able to fly well enough to be released into the wild. She has been approved to remain an MWR education bird by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

This female Mississippi Kite more than likely had babies in a nest somewhere near where she was shot. Sadly, the babies probably died from lack of maternal care. How unfortunate this happened because someone thought it would be "fun" to use a gun for target practice on an inedible, federally protected member of the hawk family.

Abuses such as this have to be reported within 24 hours to the USFWS. There is a $15,000+ fine and prison time for injuring all federally protected birds in America. After the wound was cleaned and antibiotics and fluids started, the bird was stabilized and able to travel to a local Veterinarian who is proficient in wild bird medicine.

Large insects are the mainstay of the Mississippi Kite, although some amphibians, reptiles, bats, and other small mammals are taken. When healthy, these birds catch insects in the air, often eating them while flying. Mississippi Kites often nest in loose colonies making shallow bowl-shaped nests built of sticks. The male and female Mississippi Kite share the incubation duties to try to hatch their 2 eggs. In contrast, many female raptors provide most of the incubation, while the male supplies her with food at the nest.

2006 Rescue

"Connor"

Connor's leg was broken.