European Raptors: Biology and Conservation » Kites

New interview with Ian Carter about the Red Kite in the UK

pomarina — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:14:07 +0000

Two young Red Kites from central Spain in their release pen in central England in the mid-1990s.
© Ian Carter

The Red Kite is a beautiful and elegant raptor for which Europe has a very high responsibility as almost all of the world population breeds in Europe.
The story of the Red Kite in Europe in Europe is a mixed one. While habitat destruction and especially illegal poisoning is threatening populations in some countries like Spain, the British population has made a spectacular comeback thanks to conservation efforts for the small population that survived in Wales and also thanks to successful reintroduction programmes in Scotland and England.
Despite ongoing persecution, especially in some parts of Scotland, the story of the Red Kite in the UK in recent decades is a very positive and encouraging one.

In this new interview, Red Kite expert Ian Carter talks about the current situation of this beautiful raptor in the UK, about the conservation efforts and the threats the species is facing.

Click here for the full interview:
Interview with Ian Carter about the Red Kite in the UK

New symposium about the Red Kite in Germany: Der Rotmilan, ein echter Europäer – Status und Schutzverantwortung

pomarina — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:51:43 +0000

On August 23rd, there will be a symposium on the Red Kite in Germany. There will be several very interesting presentations and discussions about the status of the Red Kite on it’s conservation.

More information including the program can be found here (German):
http://www.mufv.rlp.de/fileadmin/mufv/img/inhalte/natur/Rotmilan_2010_06_02_Druckfertig.pdf

New interview with Guido Ceccolini about Red Kite reintroduction, Lanner Falcons and other raptors in Tuscany (Italy)

pomarina — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:09:57 +0000

Red Kite in aviary, © Guido Ceccolini

Almost the entire World distribution of the Red Kite lives in Europe. The species has declined in many areas due to the intensification of agriculture, electrocution, illegal poisoning and other reasons.
But conservation does work very well for the species in some countries, for example the UK where conservation measures and reintroduction programs in Scotland and England has helped to increase the population considerably.

A new reintroduction program is currently under way in Tuscany (Italy).

Guido Ceccolini explains in a new interview on europeanraptors.org why the Red Kite became extinct the the region and what is done to bring the beautiful raptor back. He also gives some information on other raptors in the area.

The new interview can be found here:
Interview with Guido Ceccolini about Red Kite reintroduction, Lanner Falcons and other raptors in Tuscany (Italy)

New record year for Red Kites in Scotland: 149 pairs fledge 234 young in 2009

pomarina — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:28:02 +0000

The Red Kite was extinct in Scotland but thanks to a reintroduction project done by the RSPB and others, the birds are can now be seen again in Scotland. In 2009, the population reached a new high with 149 pairs fledging 234 young which is probably more pairs than any time during the last 150 years.
The UK population in 2008 was estimated at 1,200 pairs.

More information can be found on the following RSPB websites:
Red kites soar to highest level for 150 years
Red Kite species information by the RSPB

Video showing released Red Kites for reintroduction in Tuscany

pomarina — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:28:06 +0000

The Red Kite was a breeding species in Tuscany but died out in the 20th century, mostly due to poaching.

A new reintroduction project started releasing birds using the same technique as was used successfully in the UK. The young were taken from healthy populations in Switzerland and Corsica. In 2007 and 2008, 26 Red Kites were released.
In 2009, another 20 birds were released.

This video from Youtube shows some beautiful scenes with the birds:

Upcoming Red Kit international symposium in France, October 17-18th

pomarina — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:32:49 +0000

LPO (Birdlife France) is hosting an international symposium on the Red Kite on October 17-18th. The conference will be held in Montbéliard (eastern France).

Here is the text from the official invitation by the LPO:

And what if the
symbol of European
conservation were
the Red kite ?

Its distribution is limited to the old continent, a bird which is impressive yet delicate, wayfaring but also sedentary, found in
both Mediterranean and Scandinavian regions, in forests and meadows where it has been hard hit by the EU agricultural policy
and the choices our society makes with respect to our lifestyle.
The beginning of the 21st C. has put serious pressure on this species.
All kinds of threats, some yet to be understood, are taking a heavy toll on the European population. To offset this
situation, Red kites have been reintroduced to Great Britain and Tuscany, Italy ; in Switzerland they have
been fitted with Argos satellite transmitters ; in Spain wing tags are monitored ; in France feeding sites have been
established, in Germany the impact of wind farms are monitored, etc. To exchange knowledge about this
species and share ideas for future collaborative plans, we are pleased to invite you to the first international
symposium in the framework of the French Restoration Program for Red kite which will take
place in Franche-Comté, eastern France in the heart of the European territory of the Red kite, on October, 17 and
18th 2009.

LPO Franche-Comté team

The following two pdf files contain more information, the list of proposed presentations and a registration form.
Red Kite International Symposium
Registration Form