Suwannee Scout On the Move!

Our GPS-tracked Swallow-tailed Kite, Suwannee Scout, has given us an exciting glimpse into his late-summer journey. Gina Kent, Senior Conservation Scientist with ARCI provides us with an update.

Suwannee Scout heads south

After his capture in late June, Suwannee Scout spent several weeks along the Suwannee River, ranging across Dixie, Levy, and Gilchrist counties. Then, on August 14th, instinct called and he began his southward migration. His first overnight stop was in Sumter County, followed the next night by Glades County.

His last confirmed location came in the middle of the night at a roosting site in Glades County. From there, researchers believe Suwannee Scout caught a favorable tailwind that carried him quickly through Peninsular Florida and out across the Gulf of Mexico or the Straits of Florida.

​Since then, we haven’t received new data points — but that doesn’t necessarily mean trouble. Much of the Swallow-tailed Kite’s southbound route passes through regions with limited cell coverage. The GPS unit on Suwannee Scout continues to record his movements and will upload all stored data once he reconnects with a cell tower.

​For now, we wait, watch, and stay hopeful that Suwannee Scout is soaring safely through Central and South America, adding another chapter to the fascinating story of these long-distance travelers.

Stay tuned — as soon as Suwannee Scout checks back in, we’ll share the next update!