I would love to keep this discussion going if people have any knowledge about dragonfly types, insect types etc. that the Swallow Tail might be eating in the various habitats. I would imagine a large bird would prefer larger insects. I don't know much about insects but I assume that just like other species they all have their niches. What large insect species would hang around over soybean fields? I saw a post on on Birding Ohio that mentioned some drainage ditches. Would that significantly change the type of insects that would be in the fields? Or would nearby woodlots change the type of insect in the fields (I'm thinking breeding areas vs. foraging areas but again am just surmising). It is supposed to rain this next week, does that change the number or type of dragonflies? I realize that with a wandering bird nothing is really definitive but any discussion would be informative in some way or another. Do we need separate lists that do more than just list species seen? Thank you, Marie, Fairborn On 8/17/201 The habitat in that area was, again, open farmland with numerous scattered woodlots. So I think the habitat where the bird was seen in Highland County would be fine for this bird to stick around, and I certainly think this Swallow-tailed Kite would be worth seeking. [EDIT: just as I was about to post this, I saw a message that Doreene Linzell and Dan Sanders had just seen the kite again. Way to go, Doreene and Dan!] Kenn Kaufman Oak Harbor, OH On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 10:49 AM, Paul Hurtado <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> While this species does have habitat preferences, this time of year they >> can wander widely and turn up just about anywhere! >> >> Even the best habitat in Ohio for the species isn't guaranteed to make a >> wandering vagrant stick around. That said, it took me three attempts before >> successfully chasing my life bird outside West Lafayette, IN last summer >> (in an area of mixed open agricultural habitat and woodlots). >> >> A risky species to chase, but every once and a while they DO stick around! >> >> -Paul Hurtado >> >> ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]