Photographing Snail Kites

Your visit to Birds

of Devils Garden wild birds nature park is going to mean seeing a lot of the endangered snail kite.    If this bird is on your life list, and still unchecked, not to worry.  There are dozens and dozens of snail kites at Birds of Devils Garden.

Its vast stretches of wetlands are the perfect ecological environement for the snail to thrive.    Snail eggs cover many an aquatic plant stem, and snail shells litterally litter the property, all having been the feast for a kite.

Here's an inspiring article on photographing these magnificent birds.  It includes some stunning photographs by Jim Neiger.

http://www.naturescapes.net/052006/jn0506.htm

You'll note – perhaps with surprise – that the female snail kite is dramatically different from the male in terms of coloring.   This makes the birding all the more exciting.   It's easy to mistake the female for a hawk or osprey.

With a good zoom lens, you'll easily be able to capture the snail within your subject's talons.    Snail kites “play with their food” for a long time before flying off to “hunt” for more.   There's not much of a hunt, though, since Birds

of Devils Garden is brimming with zebra snails and apple snails.

We're working on a way for you to share your photos with our readers and future visitors.

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