Some years many can be found in Orange County, while at other times they become quite rare. The cycles, experts say, are linked to the abundance of its favorite prey, the California vole. Kites can put on a spectacular air show if you happen to be watching at the right time. Unlike other raptors, they often hunt by hovering in place, beating their wings rapidly and watching a piece of ground. The acrobatics don't stop there.
Kites can hand off captured prey to each other in midair as if passing a baton.
And pairs of competing males can lock talons in midflight, pinwheeling downward and nearly hitting the ground before letting go at the last instant to fly their separate ways. Their exotic appearance makes them worth watching even when they're resting between aerial maneuvers. P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711.