Mississippi Kite NEST in Durham!

[Stephen Mirick]

On Tuesday, I took a ride up Madbury Road in Durham, on my way to
Conway.....only a little out of the way!  :-)   I immediately saw 2
kites and after a little waiting, I watched the female bring food in to
a NEST!  Yay!!   There appears to be a single white fluffy nestling in
the nest.  I could not see a second chick, but I can't swear there isn't
a 2nd in there.  The nest is high up in the crotch of a White Pine
tree.  This is unusual as previous nests in NH have been in hardwood
(hickory, oak, maple) and usually out toward the end of the branches.

I stopped by again this morning and mom, dad, and baby are doing fine.

I have hesitated to post this because it is directly in back of a home
on Madbury Road; however, it is easily seen from the sidewalk on the
road.  I have tried to contact the home owner twice, but no luck
reaching anyone.  It appears that other birders have now found the nest,
and posted the specific location on eBird.  So I figure I'd send out a
post just so people know a few basics:

1 - The nest is high up in a White Pine that is located directly behind
#71 Madbury Road.  The best viewing spot is looking west from the
sidewalk on the opposite (east) side of the road.  Roughly in front of
#74.  Again, there is a sidewalk here and I would recommend that viewing
be done ON THE SIDEWALK.  Don't trespass!!!!!  Don't touch your feet on
anyone's yard!  Honestly, the best views are from the sidewalk looking
west over #74.

2 - I have not contacted the home owner.  I hope there are no major
issues.  IF THERE IS, PLEASE POST TO THE LIST.  I don't want to create
problems with the neighbors.  I suggest visiting in the morning or early
afternoon when there is good lighting....but not too early.  It would be
quite a shock for a home owner to wake up and look out their window only
to see birders staring back at him/her.

3 - PARKING IS VERY LIMITED.  DON'T PARK ON ANY OF THE ROADS HERE. I
believe it is OK to park at the Durham Town Library, so I would suggest
people park there and walk north along the sidewalk.  It is a very short
walk.

4 - Don't "camp out" here.  Visit, get a few photos, and leave.  You
can't disturb the nesting Kites, but you can create major problems with
the residents....or local police!

This nest is the first for Durham (and Strafford County) and the first
nest discovered outside of Newmarket.  I suspect that last year there
was at least an attempted nesting in this same area, but no confirmed
nest or young were reported.

Now.....to find a nest in Newmarket and Stratham!

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA

[Debra Powers]

Just met the homeowners in Durham where they Mississippi kite is nesting. The woman’s name is Jen, I did not catch the husbands name however he is the head football coach for the University of New Hampshire. Amazing, kind nice people she actually insisted that I sit in her backyard for a while LOL. We saw one kite fly over did not see any activity in the nest. However I only stay for a few minutes I didn’t want to impose.
Deb Powers
South Berwick Maine

Sent from my iPhone

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