Natural England - 2010 International Year of Biodiversity
2010 International Year of Biodiversity
8 March 2010
We’re highlighting England’s native plants and animals for which actions taken during 2010 could make the difference between survival and extinction. Check out this week’s species.
(c) Gerry Whitlow/hyelms.com
Red kite
Following its reintroduction, the red kite is making a welcome comeback in England. Increasing numbers of people now have the chance to see this impressive bird of prey in their local countryside.
Latin name: Milvus milvus
Population numbers:
The red kite was once one of England’s most common birds of prey. As a scavenger, with a tendency to feed around human settlements, it was vulnerable to human persecution and a rapid decline led to extinction by the 1880s. A reintroduction programme, led by Natural England and RSPB, started in 1989 and there are now more than 700 pairs in England.
Where to see and when:
The red kite can be seen throughout the year. It is a highly social bird and can gather in groups of up to 100 or more in favoured feeding areas and at communal winter roosts. Red kites are now fairly common across parts of the Chiltern Hills, Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire, parts of Yorkshire and in Gateshead’s Derwent Valley.
What’s being done:
Some red kites are still killed by illegal persecution and accidental poisoning. We work with the Police and landowners to try to reduce persecution and encourage the safe use of modern rat poisons.
More information:
