Swift Flies the Morning ~ Swallowtailed Kites and Longleaf Pines, copyright Susan A. Walton.

Here in Florida in the spring, before the cypress trees in the swamps leaf out, Swallow-Tailed Kites arrive from their long migration.

It is a beautiful sight when they early morning light catches them diving and swooping over and around the tall Long-Leaf Pines to the west of the art studio; even the trunks of the pines seem to glow.

The kites make themselves known here every day in the spring and early summer and seem to be particularly attracted to a pair of large American Sycamore trees we have (perhaps because there is a certain insect they find in the canopy as the trees begin to leaf out, or perhaps there are small dead twigs that are easily snapped off by the birds with which to construct nests - these trees certainly shed their share of twigs and branches,) but whatever the reason for the aerobatic birds to spend nearly an hour at a time dive bombing our sycamores, it is a show worthy of pulling up a lawn chair and watching.

This 8 x 15 inch study is generously triple matted in archival cotton rag mats and fitted into a hardwood frame, giving it an added presence on the wall. Hanging hardware is included, all you need to do is supply the hammer.