Red kites london herts border

[ArneWarm]

Was talking to a very knowledgeable falconer recently about the Red Kite population increase in recent years- he, surprisingly for me, was damning about the whole re-introduction by the RSPB, claiming that eggs from a spanish breed were used initially so as not to generate any negative media publicity by taking from native nests, and that as a result of supplementary human feeding many other bird species are now suffering in areas where these Red Kites have quickly become prominent.
Any thoughts..?

[Helo]

Hi ArneWarm

Interesting, but very bizzare 'claims' from your 'knowledgeable' falconer. Are these claims based on facts? If so, I'd be very interested indeed to learn about them. Please feel free to PM me.

I can assure you that kite eggs are not taken from nests, except where originally a very small number were considered at risk. Chicks are taken at approx. 5 weeks old, for good reason.

I have neither the time, inclination or energy to become drawn into a public debate about the pros and cons of reintroductions projects, however, on this occasion the falconer is demonstrating a clear lack of knowledge about the kite reintroduction project, especially with regards to the number of nests available, and how/when chicks are taken from the nests.

Rest assured, these type of 'stories' are something that are repeated to me when I speak to the public at various events, in particular when speaking to those who have a 'vague' idea of how kites are monitored/taken from nests, or know a friend of a friend of a friend who may possibly have once known a landowner who had a nest on his land, etc and especially when they find out my involvement. When casually asked in what capacity they are/were involved in the projects, as I'd be interested to know where they find out these 'facts', the answer in all cases thus far has been 'None'.

....'A little knowledge...' As they say.

[ArneWarm]

I'm sure you know more than most on this matter, Helo- let me try to clarify the main concern the falconer had with re-introduction.
He runs a falconry centre in Bourton-on-the-Hill in the Cotswolds, not so far from the Welsh border- there is a healthy population of 'native' kites in the area- according to him a different breed- and believes that before long, with the rapid spread of re-introuduced Red Kites they will start inter-breeding, thus causing us to 'lose' our native Kite species.
He couldn't understand why the RSPB didn't take chicks (apologies for the egg confusion) from Welsh nests twenty years ago instead bringing chicks over from Spain.
Is he incorrect in his belief that these birds differ genetically?
If he is correct, is this a future concern for our 'native' Kites?
I don't wish to stir things up unnecessarily, but am v. curious..

[Jenny W]

Originally Posted by ArneWarm

He runs a falconry centre in Bourton-on-the-Hill in the Cotswolds, not so far from the Welsh border- there is a healthy population of 'native' kites in the area- according to him a different breed- and believes that before long, with the rapid spread of re-introuduced Red Kites they will start inter-breeding, thus causing us to 'lose' our native Kite species.

Although, I know little of the original Red Kite re-introductions in the UK, they are the same species as 'our' Red Kites - Milvus milvus.

[cutecoot]

Originally Posted by Squirrelx

... Curiously, they never seem to catch anything..

I think that's because they are scavengers and usually eat carrion? I'm a bit confused by this though, as they are called birds of prey .. I think they must also predate as well, but possibly go for small mammals rather than take birds in flight? I'd be interested to have a bit more clarification on that from someone who knows more about them than I do!

Saw *loads* of them flying around residential areas of Aylesbury when I've driven through a few times over the last month or so .. must be great to be able to see them at such close quarters.

[eowynk]

Hi im sorry to have started such a debate with this tread. the reintroduced kites are all the same species and only the 10 or so that were released in the chilterns are from spain all the otheres are british of which there are a few that i know of. if these kites had been different they would not have survived our winters as spain has a much warmer climate and in the beginning there feedeing was not suplimented. it is only members of the public and some farmers that have started feeding the birds, it mostly starte from people putting left overs out for the other wildife which the kites ahve taken advantage of. I have any times nearly run over a few kites that have been so preoccupied with eating road kill that they dont notice the cars or swoop down to pick up some thing. i have not yet seen a kite hunt. If youwant to see them the m40 is your best bet mostly around the stoken church area, as u drive trough you will see a sort of cliff where they love to wind surf. They are beautiful birds that seam to be like the dolphins of the sky, they spend a small amount of time eating and then spend the rest of the day riding the wind they look like they are having a great time. The red kite as with all birds of prey are still being persecuted so please if you see anything like shooting or you find a dead bird eg kite or buzzard it is worth calling the rspb to check that the bird has not been poisoned or shot.