Free as a Bird

When the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center’s rehabilitation team from just outside Dallas was preparing to set free 11 rehabilitated Mississippi kite birds, they decided the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s sprawling grounds of grasslands and adjacent woods was the best option – as it’s the preferred habitat for the kites.

“We are always looking for safe release sites to make sure our patients have the best chance possible once they return to the wild,” said Hailey LeBaron, BPRC raptor rehabilitation manager. “It is important that we release them in areas where migrating Mississippi kites are actively located, or where migrating groups are heading towards.”

Kites are temporary summer residents in parts of North Texas, but their final destination is often further below the equator in South American countries such as Argentina or Venezuela. Their migration begins in early August and continues into September. A large part of BPRC’s bird release strategy was returning the kites to the wild mid-migration season.

“Knowing the terrain and the space, the [Wildflower] Center was a safe location to help get these patients closer to their migration cohorts,” said LeBaron.

On the September afternoon release day, rehabilitation staff lined up the red and white temporary pet carriers, one next to each other, unlatched the lids, and waited. There’s no special science to releasing except patience. One eager bird immediately stood up, stretched its wings and flew out — soaring toward a nearby pecan tree.

The rest though seemed to be either comfortable or confused as they sat chirping to one another inside their carriers. The question floated, who would be brave enough to go next?

One by one, the birds begin to lift off: some flying high into the open air, others coasting low over the tall native grasses and landing in distant trees. One kite loops in lazy circles high into the sky, seeming to exemplify the freedom of flying kite toys that share their name.

The entire release took only minutes once the birds realized they were nursed back to health and free to go.

Both the Wildflower Center and Blackland Prairie Raptor Center share a similar mission of conservation. Since its conception in 1982, the Wildflower Center has been a hub for not only conservation efforts but also research throughout Texas and nationwide.

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental preservation through public education and the conservation of birds of prey and wildlife in their natural habitat. The two entities hope to partner more on future projects.

 

Sources:

“Facts.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 21 Sept. 2021, https://www.wildflower.org/facts.

“Overview.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 5 July 2021, https://www.wildflower.org/about/overview.

“Mississippi Kite.” Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, https://bpraptorcenter.org/mississippi-kite/