---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: bob augustine <augustinebob8@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Subject: augustinebob8@xxxxxxxxx
To: jjfdc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, stephendeccles@xxxxxxxxx
It has not yet been determined if the kites are nesting again in King's Park
(3 miles outside the beltway just off Braddock Road at Victoria and Thames).
They've been there now for a few years. Kites typically nest in an area for
several years and then move on. So, they might have left. If so, they may be
nearby.
I assure you there are lots of kites in Fairfax County now. In August of
2010 in driving through Fairfax County every third bird I saw in the air was
a kite.
In 2010 I established that there is a nesting area near Burke Lake Road and
Burke Centre Parkway (somewhere behind the Heathwood Retirement Center and
Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center near Bryce Pond.) Another area found
by Tony Quezon is at Clara Barton Drive and Oakland Park Drive. The chief
roost there is at 10969 Clara Barton Drive.
There apparently was a nest area just W of Lake Braddock Secondary School
and possibly another E of the school (relocated King's Park birds?) Kites
were also seen around Bonnie Brae ES and over the K-Mart near New Guinea and
Guinea Roads.
The best time to see kites is in August, but if you want to find a nest
you'd better look in late July before fledging occurs. There's about a
two-week window when a half-grown nestling demands to be fed every 10
minutes.
Be sure to report any sightings you make.
Please feel free to post this to VA Birds as I cannot. Further
questions/info call me at 301 933 5970.
Bob Augustine
augustinebob8@xxxxxxxxx
Rockville, MD
