Red kite fledglings rescued after becoming 'waterlogged'

A wildlife hospital is struggling to find room for 18 waterlogged red kites, rescued during recent wet weather.

The fledglings, whose feathers had been weighed down by water, are being cared for at Tiggywinkles Hospital near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Founder Les Stocker said: "Juvenile kites seem unable to take wet weather. They leave their nests, get wet and can literally fall out of the trees."

The kites will be released when the weather is drier, he added.

The young kites were all found by members of the public during the past two weeks, and taken to the centre.

'Unprecedented numbers'

"Once they've fallen out of trees, they just lie on the ground, soaking wet, and playing dead," Mr Stocker said.

Continued:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18923266

Red Kites snatch sausages from barbecue

A day after model Kate Hillman told how a red kite swooped down and tried to fly off with her pet dog, police are investigating reports of the huge predators pinching sausages from a garden barbecue.

It happened in Wokingham, Berkshire, just a few miles from where 32-year-old Kate's handbag-sized Pomeranian dog Vinnie was nearly carried off by a kite.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said "We have received a report of red kites stealing cooked food including sausages from a hot barbecue.

"We have also received a report of a red kite taking a fully-grown male Mallard duck off the water.

"Anyone with confirmed reports of red kites killing young livestock or domestic pets should call police on 101."

Experts are urging people not to feed the kites, which are becoming a common sight in the skies around Reading, Maidenhead and Henley-on-Thames.

Continued:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9231649/Red-Kites-snatch-sausages-from-barbecue.html

Last of red kites introduced to the Highlands dies

The rare bird is thought to be the last of more than 90 brought from Sweden as chicks nearly 20 years ago.

The last of the original red kites introduced to the Highlands from Sweden has died.

The rare bird was only a chick when it was flown by the RAF from Sweden into Kinloss in 1993.

The red kite was found dead close to Munlochy on the Black Isle at a site where he and his mate had nested for the past eight years.

Brian Etheridge, RSPB raptor monitoring officer, said: "I must say finding this bird, known to me as Red T on account of his wing tag code, made me particularly sad.

"He was in his nineteenth year and, undoubtedly, raised a lot of youngsters over his life-time.

"The wood in which he was found was in the process of being clear-felled when his body was discovered. His mate of 15 years was circling overhead, her life-long mate gone and her nest cut-down.

"I strongly suspect that Red T will be the last survivor of the birds that were born in Sweden. Nineteen is a very old age for a kite particularly in this area.

"Unfortunately illegal poisoning, particularly on the grouse moors south of Inverness, continues to take a terrible toll on our red kites and other birds of prey."

More than 90 red kites were introduced into the Black Isle between 1989 and 1993.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/299534-last-of-red-kites-introduced-to-the-highlands-dies/

Residents urged not to feed red kites in Chilterns

A conservation board in Oxfordshire has renewed its plea for local residents to stop feeding red kites.

Cathy Rose, from the Chiltern Conservation Board, told the BBC's Inside Out programme they were "magical animals" but it was time for people to stop feeding them and let them survive naturally.

Red kites were reintroduced to the Chilterns in 1989 and their numbers have increased from 93 birds to more than 600 breeding pairs.

Some local residents have complained the birds are becoming a nuisance because people feed them.

But one of the men who helped reintroduce them into Oxfordshire has said he does not think it is a problem for people to feed them.

Illustrator and naturalist Nigel Snell was the regional co-ordinator during the reintroduction scheme.

"Anytime anybody sees masses of anything they always think there are too many of them," he said.

"We've only got to go a short way up the M40 and you'll hardly see any of them."

'Sensationalist news'

People feeding red kites in their gardens can attract as many as 50 of the birds, which predominantly scavenge for their food.

Ms Rose said: "People have been putting food out for red kites for years thinking that they are doing them a favour but what it might be doing is causing them to cluster in areas where perhaps they are not as welcome as they might be.

"Maybe they are breeding in areas where they are being fed at a level that is higher than the area would naturally be able to sustain.

"People start reading sensationalist news stories about children being injured by kites or kites coming down into peoples gardens and we don't want the kites to be viewed in that way."

Gamekeeper Joe Wasylowski has said people should be fined for feeding the birds.

"I don't think people should be doing it like this," he said.

"I think they should be left alone to get on with it like the rest of the wildlife."

Coal merchant Richard Smith has fed the birds regularly for nearly a decade.

He said he only feeds them once a week so they do not become too dependent.

And Gill Smith, who also regularly feeds the birds, said: "We don't feed them so much in the summer because there is more food about but in hard winters, it just sees them through."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-16795226

Journey's end as red kite is found poisoned

December 2011. Police are appealing for information after one of North Scotland's most adventurous red kites was found poisoned in East Ayrshire.


Shortly after fledging on the Black Isle this summer, the young bird surprised RSPB Scotland staff by immediately flying two hundred miles in just a few days. A satellite transmitter fitted to its back, made it possible to trace the young bird's journey down the west coast of Scotland.

However, staff became concerned in September when transmissions showed that the bird had remained in the same place near Muirkirk for several days.

North Lowther Hills
It was later discovered dead close to the Muirkirk and North Lowther Hills Special Protection Area (SPA), an area of moorland that receives special legal protection because of its breeding bird of prey population.

Subsequent tests by the SASA government laboratory showed it had been poisoned by a banned pesticide.

RSPB Scotland Investigations Officer Ian Thomson said "The poisoning of this red kite is just the latest incident of bird of prey persecution in and around the SPA, particularly involving hen harriers and peregrines. The populations of hen harrier in particular are declining alarmingly in this area. Only a few years ago there were 21 pairs of hen harriers in the SPA; now we are down to a mere handful".

Enquiries by the police are continuing. Anyone with further information regarding this incident is urged to contact Strathclyde Police on 0141 532 2000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/kite-poisoned.html

30 more red kites arrive in Lake District

Raptors will spend a month gaining strengthAugust 2011: A landmark Forestry Commission conservation project has entered a new chapter with the arrival of 30 more magnificent birds of prey in Grizedale Forest .

Red kites were successfully reintroduced to the heart of the Lake District in the summer last year. Now their numbers are set to double with new hatchlings arriving from the Forestry Commission's flagship breeding site in Rockingham Forest , Northamptonshire.

The latest group of juvenile raptors are spending a month gaining strength in a custom-made pen at a secret location in Grizedale Forest. An expert team is caring for the young birds and feeding them until they are ready to fly and fend for themselves.

We have great confidence in this reintroduction projectWildlife ranger Iain Yoxall, who has led the project to reintroduce red kites into Grizedale, said: ‘The release of the first 30 birds last year was a momentous sight and has given us cause for great confidence in the project.
‘We are feeding the new arrivals on a variety of food, with the staple diet and nourishment coming from dead grey squirrel, rats and mice. The birds of prey are primarily scavengers in the wild and feed mostly on carrion.

‘We will care for the hatchlings for three or four weeks until they have grown strong enough to take wing, giving them the best possible opportunity to thrive in the wild.'

He added: ‘Before release, we have a vet on hand to give each of the birds a full health screening which includes delousing, worming, visual inspections and blood tests.'

It's a real conservation success‘This project is fast becoming a great conservation success for the Forestry Commission, reintroducing a species that has been missing for well over a century."'

When the birds are released, they carry tags on each wing, an orange one on the left to show they are from Grizedale, and one on the right to indicate the year of release - white ones for 2011.

The Grizedale birds also carry radio transmitters to allow the forest's rangers to monitor their progress and the scheme's success, but the Forestry Commission is keen for people to report sightings of the birds to help judge their movements and support the project.

The Forestry Commission North West England has been granted a special licence to release 90 red kites in Grizedale Forest over a three-year period. The latest arrivals mark the second phase of the landmark final reintroduction of the birds in England . There will be another 30 birds released in 2012.

Red kites were almost eradicated from the UK following changes in farming practices and human persecution between the 16th and 19th centuries. Numbers then recovered slowly thanks to the actions of local conservationists. The UK population is expanding and there are now thought to be more than 1,000 pairs of the birds in the country.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/kites-grizedale2011.html#cr

Red kites collecting odds and ends for their nests

Old habits die hard for popular bird of prey

December 2010. The red kite has a long history of taking an interest in human belongings. Now several centuries later, it appears that this unusual practice shows no sign of stopping.

Teddy bear and socks in nests
In recent years, RSPB Scotland has found a number of weird and wonderful items hiding in the nests of some of Scotland's red kites. Amongst the traditional nest-building materials of dead twigs, grass and a lining of sheep's wool, staff have discovered coloured string and paper, as well as socks, underwear, a small child's glove, a teddy bear and, very aptly for this time of year, a Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer toy.

Magpies
Kites are well known across their European range to adorn their nests with bits of plastic and cloth which they might pick up in their breeding territory. Other bird species may exhibit similar behaviour, for example, magpies are known to like shiny items.

Shakespeare
Shakespeare was amongst the first to document the red kites penchant for stealing human possessions, when he warned ‘when the kite builds, look to lesser linen,' in The Winter's Tale (Act 4, scene 3). In Shakespeare's day, the Elizabethan era of the 1600s, the red kite was known to be an extremely common species, present even in many of our towns and cities. The red kite benefitted from poor sanitary conditions and presumably associated large rodent populations, indeed the species was protected by Royal decree as a street cleaner.

Brian Etheridge of RSPB Scotland said: "Over the years we've found many strange and interesting things in the nest of red kites. The birds use these items, many of which are discarded by humans when out in the countryside, to line their nests. However, cuddly toys are probably taken as they are mistaken for food. We often find them later with bits of stuffing pulled out. That's bound to cause a surprise, not least to a nestful of hungry chicks!"

Red kites were once completely exterminated in Scotland due to continued human persecution. However, thanks to a successful reintroduction project, led by RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage in the 1980s, these birds are making a slow and steady recovery across many of their former ranges. Red kites are primarily a scavenger, feeding on dead animals that they find in the countryside.

Some unusual items found in Red kite nests in Scotland. Credit RSPB Scotland

Final stage in red kite project

The final missing jigsaw piece in Scotland's 20-year effort to reintroduce the red kite is set to be put in place.

A total of 36 of the birds are to be released on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

The release will mark the final year of the Aberdeen red kite project, which it is hoped will allow the species to be self-sustaining across Scotland.

Red kites have already been released on the Black Isle and in Dumfries and Galloway and Central Scotland.

Seven birds will be released on Thursday, with the remaining 29 reintroduced to the wild over the course of the next month.

Red kites were once a common sight across Scotland, but were hunted to near extinction in Victorian times.

The RSPB Scotland reintroduction programme began in 1989, and by last year there were 122 breeding pairs in the country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8152578.stm

Kleptomaniacs of the skies

If you've been trawling the shops for boutique chic and pastel colours, you've got it all wrong: football flags, underwear and magazine pages are the latest trends in interior design.
At least they are if you're a red kite.

We've discovered that items in red kite nests are becoming ever more surprising, showing the magnificent bird of prey's penchant for weird and wonderful home decoration.
Among the goodies uncovered by experts are England flags, handbags, magazine pages, tea towels, lottery tickets and socks.

And one cheeky red kite had even lined its nest with a par of frilly knickers.

Alissa Cook, RSPB Bird of Prey campaign manager, says: 'Many of us like to redecorate our homes every now and then and we look for interesting things to make it look nice.

Other items discovered include gloves, sponge balls, crisp packets and handkerchiefs
'It seems red kites are no different and they are quite the homebodies. They will collect anything shiny, bright or eye-catching and use it to line their nests.

'We might want to keep an eye on our washing lines as tea towels and underwear seem to be among their favourites!'

Red kites were barely seen in the UK for centuries, as they were shot and poisoned in an attempt to wipe them out. But against the odds, thanks to the longest running bird conservation project in UK history, they have clawed their way back and expanded throughout the UK.
The UK population is now estimated at 1,200 breeding pairs.

And thousands of people are now getting a good look at red kites and learning about their kleptomaniac tendencies through a series of RSPB projects called 'A date with nature'.
Red kite viewing sites are all around the UK, including mid-Wales, Leeds and south-west Scotland. The Date With Nature scheme also includes dates with other birds of prey like peregrines and ospreys.

Many red kite nests are monitored and chicks tagged to track the movement of the species. It's these checks that have unearthed the weird and wonderful trophies. Other items discovered include gloves, sponge balls, crisp packets and handkerchiefs.

Shakespeare was one of the first to spot the eclectic home decoration tastes of the red kite, when he warned 'when the kite builds, look to lesser linen,' in The Winter's Tale (Act 4, scene 3).
In his day, washing was left on hedges to dry and red kites took advantage but they appear to have branched out to washing from clothes lines as well as all sorts of other items.

Adult red kites are real home-birds and both males and females build their nest. Their nests are usually 10-20 metres high and carefully made of dead twigs, lined with sheep's wool and grass.
Just before the female lays the eggs is when the kites decorate their nests with other random items, and they redecorate every time the female lays a clutch. It can become pretty big and colourful, especially if the same nest is used for several seasons.

Random decorations
It is believed that the random items are used purposefully as a form of decoration, perhaps to advertise to other Kites in the area that the nest is in use
Alissa Cook said: 'As well as finding it fascinating that red kites are taking off with such an eclectic mix of home decorations, it is extremely heartening that their presence continues to be felt.

'To think we almost lost these incredible birds of prey is devastating, and more and more people are now seeing them regularly.

'They are quite extraordinary to watch as despite being huge birds, they are very graceful, almost regal. The RSPB is delighted that so many people want to come and see them up close and personal through this scheme and thank goodness we can still show them off.'

Notes
Photographs are available to download free of charge from the RSPB Images website. To download images, click on the hyperlink below and please enter the username and password when prompted.

Red kites are just one of the wild creatures you can see through the RSPB’s Date With Nature Scheme. Other Dates will bring you close to birds like puffins, red kites, ospreys and starlings. To make a date near you visit www.rspb.org/datewithnature.

Red kites are unmistakable with reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. They were saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes, and have now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. The red kite is an Amber List species because of its historical decline.

Despite being legally protected, birds of prey, including red kites, are still being killed in some parts of the UK. The RSPB is running a campaign calling for an end to the illegal killing of all birds of prey. To pledge your support go to www.rspb.org.uk/birdsofprey

Gemma Rogers
http://www.rspb.org.uk/media/releases/details.asp?id=tcm:9-220496

Success of kites project marked

The success of a scheme to reintroduce a rare bird of prey to the skies of north-east England has been marked.

The Northern Kites Project started in 2004 to bring back red kites after an absence of more than 170 years.

More than 30 organisations have been involved with the project, and in 2008 14 pairs of the birds reared 22 young.

On Saturday, more than 150 people linked to the project came together to form a giant red kite in Gateshead's Baltic Square.

They held printed lightweight plastic tiles above their heads to form a giant mosaic of a red kite, with a wingspan of almost 25m (82ft).

The event aimed to illustrate the cultural impact that the red kites' return has had on the area.
Gateshead Council leader Councillor Mick Henry said: "I well remember the day in 2005 when I was invited to release a young kite into the wild for the first time.

"It was a thrilling experience. Now, barely five years later, everyone can come and enjoy the thrill of watching what must be the North East's greatest and most accessible wildlife spectacle."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8110704.stm