![]() Red Kites are mainly under threat from illegal killing, both by shooting & poisoning, & from egg-collectors. There is a release program to various sites in England - the kites usually are from Spain or Sweden. Currently there are around 200 breeding pairs in Wales. In 1997 the estimated world population was around 20,000 breeding pairs, with 230 pairs being in Great Britain (the majority - 145 - in Wales). The low point of the population in the UK was between 1931 & 1935, where only two of the eleven pairs in Wales successfully bred. In the late 19 th century, J.H.Salter, a professor of Botany at Aberystwyth University & a group of landowners & individuals set up an unofficial protection programme, which over a hundred years, maintained the small population. By late 18 th century, all had been killed in England (also Scotland), & few pairs survived in Mid-Wales (Twyi & Cothi valleys). Declared vermin (possibly due to also preying on domestic fowl), by UK Government acts in 16 th century, & decision made to kill all of them throughout England & Wales. Legally protected during the early middle-ages, because of it would clear human refuse from around towns & cities. Patterning is extremely uniform, making individuals difficult to identify. Eat a lot of carrion - gives reputation of killing large animals - in practice largest prey is young rabbits. Long angled wings (wingspan ~6ft), can stay in air long time, with minimal beats of the wing, especially when soaring in thermals. The toy kite is named after the bird (not the other way round).ĭistinctive forked tail in flight.
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