red kite population crash

[lucy]

Widespread use of poison is hitting the red kite population across Europe, including Spain where there's been a 40% drop in breeding pairs.  There's a report on this on the RSPB web page, as they've put together an Action Plan for the EU, after the very successful programme to save Red kites in the UK.

The greatest threat comes from birds feeding on carcasses that have been illegally laced with agricultural pesticides to control foxes and wolves. In some places, birds of prey are also deliberately targeted to protect game birds.

 Red kites are excellent scavengers and are particularly vulnerable to poisoned baits.

 In some countries, vole plagues are legally controlled by farmers using large quantities of rodenticides spread out in the open across fields. Red kites then scavenge the dead rodents and become poisoned in turn.

The disastrous measures taken against the vole plague in Castilla y Leon comes to mind.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-235416

[Dave]

Hi Lucy
Well I hope it is not true, at the moment, we seem to have lots of Red Kites, every time we go out the skies seem full of them, this year probably more than others, but we will see
Regards
Dave

[Vicente Malagon]

Hi Dave, I don't know where do you live, but in the last few years Red Kite's population has dropped more than 50% here in La Mancha. Five years ago there were several winter roosting places for RK, with numbers from 40 to 100, and now there are only a few, and it's difficult to see more than 10 RK. The breeding population in the Ciudad Real province has dropped close to 80%, whilst wintering individuals are over 87%. We are close to lose our last breeding pairs, and everyday we go out it's more and more difficult to watch its magnificent and acrobatic flight.

Vicente.

[Clive]

Hi, just a quick tip..... In your forum profile you can add where you are located... look, mine says the Sierra de Grazalema... Under my avatar.....

[Dave]

Thanks Clive
Done that
Vicente, I live in the wonderful city of León, travelling regularly to the Bierzo area, this time of year it would be a strange day if we did not see at least 6 Red Kite, to me they seem more common now that ever before, although perhaps I am now more aware of them, they usually appear in October, after their black cousins disappear, maybe I am wrong but this is just a personal observation.

Regards
Dave

[coatimundi]

I was strolling round El Hondo near Elche the other day. I was stopped by a Spanish chap who asked me in halting English to keep my eyes out for "nefarious persons" (his words) who are putting down poison. When I asked him why they were doing that, he explained that there is a row going on locally over the use of the water in the wetlands for irrigation, some people seem to think that if there are no birds around then the reserve area will not attract birdwatchers any more and the place will fall into disuse as a reserve.

This is appalling, there are the usual wetland species, but more importantly the area is a winter haven for many raptors which will come down on poisoned bait - harriers, eagles and buzzards of various species (Kites are irregular here), you can look in the sky at just about any point and see four or five (sometimes more) raptors circling overhead. Today (Saturday) I was crammed into a hide at El Hondo along with about 10 mad-keen Spanish birders, so it's not an unappreciated reserve.

 I'll have some photos for ID confirmation next week when I'm at home and have access to my photo software...

I have signed the RSPB Kite pledge, but there is still a long way to go....

TTFN
Mark

[Phil James]

Sadly this poisoning seems very believable. Happy to say that here in the Pyrenees Red Kite population appears to be healthy - hope it stays that way.

I've just driven into Jaca and saw about 20 RK in about 20 mins. The stretch of road a few kilometres east and west of Jaca is a superb place to see RKs. Not sure why - it's farmland and must be a good place for food - it doesn't seem much different from surrounding areas but there are always kites there.

I'll let you know if I hear of any poising incidents.

Phil.

[Dave]

Hi All
Went for a drive the other day, just outside León, passed close by to Poultry farm, there were around 13 Red Kites, soaring above, probably the most I have ever seen, in this area. All in all any trip outside of León results in numerous Red Kite sightings, so as with Phil our population seems to be OK at present.
Regards
Dave

[Vicente Malagon]

Hi All.

Please note that the Red Kites that you are seen now are wintering birds from central and north Europe, BUT the breeding population in Spain has drop in the last 10-15 years from 5,000 TO LESS THAN 1,500 pairs. All sights during Spring-Summer will be appreciated, cause they will be more significants.

Vicente.

[Dave]

Hi All
Interesting report and amazing Photo from the Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7392244/Red-Kites-pictured-fighting-for-food-in-mid-air.html
Regards
Dave

[Vicente Malagon]

Hi again.

I made a mistake. I said that Red Kites population dropped from 50.000 pairs to 15.000 pairs in the last 10-15 years. Correct numbers are 5.000 to 1.500 pairs (breeding population). Sorry for the lapse.

Vicente.

[nick]

No problem and thanks Vicente. I've taken the liberty of ammending your original post.

Cheers
Nick

[Ken Montandon]

Apologies for going off topic slightly, but there is a farm in Wales (Rhayader to be precise) that feeds Red Kites on a daily basis. The public are admitted at feeding times to watch this spectacle. during a cold spell at the beginning of January some friends and myself made the journey up - specifically to see a Black Kite that had been reported - the Red Kites were a bonus. Nothing could have prepared us for the spectacle of 400 plus Kites swooping in to snatch the food that was put out for them. This is a wildlife memory that will stay with me for ever.

I've uploaded a a picture that is extremely poor (I took it with my phone) but it gives some idea of the numbers involved. The following URL will take you to the website - where there are much better pictures too!

www.gigrin.co.uk