Why were
red kites from the Welsh population not used for the re-introductions
in England and Scotland?
The Welsh population was derived from
a very small number of individual females. They were therefore
genetically very similar. Introduction of genetic variety
from European populations was thought to be better for
the species.
The population in Wales had not risen to a sufficient
level to cope with the removal of significant numbers
of chicks.
What effect
has the re-introduction of red kites had on the other
wildlife of the Chilterns?
Red kites mainly scavenge on dead animals,
so they have had little impact on the populations of the
species they eat.
There is circumstantial evidence that buzzard populations
have risen in the Chilterns since the re-introduction
of red kites, but there is no proof of a direct correlation
between the two species.
Why hasn’t
the Chilterns population spread much?
Red kites are gregarious birds, and
are not particularly territorial. They have been known
to nest within 100m of each other.
Currently there seems to be enough food to support the
birds in a relatively small area. If food is readily available,
they tend not to travel too far, but if the number of
red kites continues to increase at current rates, the
range of the population will probably expand.
How long
do red kites live?
In the wild, it’s common for
kites to live well into their teens, and they can live
for up to 25 – 30 years.
How do you
tell males and females apart?
Coloration is identical in both sexes.
Males are slightly smaller than females but there is wide
overlap. Females have proportionately longer and broader
wings. Males tend to have a more deeply notched tail,
which they twist and flex more than the females.
It is difficult to tell the sexes apart unless you have
two to compare directly.
Do red kites
mate for life?
Red kites usually take the same mate
year after year, but ‘divorces’ aren’t
unheard of!
The association between the pairs is looser during the
winter than in the breeding season.
What’s
their courtship behaviour like?
The pair perform high circling displays,
particularly in the early part of the day. They may pass
close together, twisting apart at the last moment, and
will sometimes pass food between them. Very occasionally,
they may lock talons, but this behaviour is not commonly
reported.
What is
the biggest threat to red kites?
Red kites have no natural predators,
so their biggest threats come from the actions of humans.
A major threat is still the risk of poisoning. Persecution
of red kites is much reduced nowadays, but it does occasionally
still happen.
Red kites have perished as a result of eating illegally
poisoned baits left out for other animals (e.g. foxes),
they have also been known to die after picking up the
corpses of legally poisoned rodents. A leaflet about
rat poisons and the threats to birds of prey is available
by calling English Nature’s Enquiry Service on
01733 455101.
They are also very susceptible to disturbance when they
are nesting.
Should
we feed red kites?
Red kites can survive well in the Chilterns without artificial feeding, so it is not necessary to supplement their diet. It is acknowledged that feeding has helped the local re-introduced kite population to increase more rapidly than it might otherwise have done and has kept the population at a level that chicks can be re-located to other parts of the country. However, it can also be argued that providing too much additional food can prevent the population from spreading naturally and the wrong types of food may lead to dietary deficiencies. Many people gain great pleasure from feeding the kites and if done carefully, the benefits and any potential problems can be balanced. A set of red kite feeding guidelines have been developed to ensure that any feeding of red kites in the Chilterns is undertaken in a responsible manner.
more
information
If you have a question about red kites, please email Cathy Rose at crose@chilternsaonb.org
