Swallow Tailed Kite Greeting Card - Juliet Whitsett

“Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)" is part of the Threatened Texas series and is an  of original artwork by me, Juliet Whitsett. To create this image I sampled colors from images of threatened species and created original art inspired by the unique limited palette.

SPECIES INFORMATION PROVIDED BY: Keith A. Arnold, Ornithologist, Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University

"The American Swallow-tailed Kite ranges throughout much of South America through Middle America into southeastern United and western Mississippi river valley. These birds were extirpated in the early20 th century from the Gulf coastal plains and from the western Mississippi river forests. No explanation has been accepted for the contract of the northern breeding areas, but human activity and habitat loss seem likely. In the 1970s, an active nest was discovered in southeast Texas. Since then, these birds have reoccupied much of their former range. Migrants begin arriving in early March, while these birds leave for their winter homes beginning in early August. Whether in migration or foraging in family groups, these graceful aerial flyers are often chasing their flying insect prey. Given the continuing expansion ofthese kites in Texas, their future looks bright."

5" x 5"