Once he takes off someone must wait around for him to land. This bird loves to fly and will, for hours at a time.

Kites catch and eat their prey in the air never coming down until it’s rest time. They drink from rivers flying in the air.  Mid summer we have Mississippi Kites circling our house all day catching dragonfly’s.

Above, this Kite was anxiously waiting for the jesses (falconry leg ties) to be loosened.

As soon as they were he jumped and started to soar.

At one point he briefly landed in a tree.

I can say he was flying for hours. I was done photographing him, moved off into a wooded area and started working with Owls. At one point a big bird flew right through us and went off into the air again.

It was the Kite, checking us and moving on.

Taken at the Birds Of Brey / Avian Conservation Center, Charleston.