| Red Kite |
| Wild Mallorca |
 The Balearic Islands population has declined from 41-47 breeding pairs in 1993 to just 10 in 2003. The main threats to this species are poisoning, through illegal direct poisoning and indirect poisoning due to pesticides, particularly in the wintering ranges in France and Spain, and changes in agricultural practices causing a reduction in food resources. Other threats include electrocution, hunting and trapping, deforestation, egg-collection (on a local scale) and possibly competition with the generally more successful Black Kite M. migrans. According to a report by the Welsh Kite Trust, the UK is the only country in which the Red Kite population is increasing. Red Kites are decreasing in their three strongholds of Spain, France and Germany. The Red Kite is 60–66 cm (24-27 in) long with a 175–195 cm wingspan; males have a weight of 800–1200 g, and females 1000–1300 g. It is an elegant bird, soaring with long wings held at a dihedral, and long forked tail twisting as it changes direction. The body, upper tail and wing coverts are rufous. The white primary flight feathers contrast with the black wing tips and dark secondaries. Apart from the weight difference, the sexes are similar, but juveniles have a buff breast and belly. The call is a thin piping, similar to but less mewling than the Common Buzzard. This first video shows the Red Kite in flight around Mallorca. The Red Kite's diet consists of small mammals including field voles, mice, rats, moles, shrews, young of hares & rabbits. It also feeds on a wide variety of carrion including sheep carcasses and dead game birds. Birds are also taken, especially the nestlings of a wide range of birds species which include Carrion Crows, Rooks, Magpies and Woodpigeons. It also occasionally feeds on Reptiles & Amphibians and earthworms form an important part of the diet, especially in the spring. As scavengers, red kites are particularly sensitive to poisoning. Illegal poison baits set for foxes or crows are indiscriminate and kill protected birds and other animals. At signs of danger a mother will signal the young who will "play dead" to the extent that a fox will believe them to be dead and leave them, thinking it can return to eat them later.This video shows the nest and a pair of Red Kites in the UK. |
