I had to chime in despite the fact that I don't have much to add to the discussion about
White-tailed Kite distribution. Last December 14 I watched two kites at a pasture along
Skookumchuck River Road, 1 mile west of its intersection with Thompson Creek Road, Thurston
County, Washington. Last Thursday, July 12, I saw a single kite in the same pasture. Given
that I don't spend a lot of time in this area, usually just a once-a-month drive by on my
way to find transmitter-equipped deer, I have to believe that this location has great
potential to be a breeding location. It's not very far from the Centralia Mine location
mentioned by Roger Orness. Kites are certainly not common in Thurston County. I suppose there
could be a nesting pair at Centralia Mine and another along Skookumchuck Road. That would
probably make the area a "kite concentration zone" by Thurston County standards.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov