Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Florida
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Florida Project


Nesting Habitat and Nest Failures of the Everglad Snail Kite on Kissimmee Lakes and Nesting, Recruiting and Foraging Ecology of the Florida Snail Kite in Lake Tohopekaliga

March 2008 - March 2013


Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission

The Snail Kite is a federally endangered raptor whose population in Florida has recently undergone precipitous declines. The remaining population remains heavily dependent upon the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes (KCOL), a group of lakes in central-Florida that is subject to many anthropogenic influences, including water and vegetation management. It is therefore crucial to gain an understanding of how the habitat on these lakes influences kite reproduction as well as determining reasons for nesting failure and success.