Red Kites

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

RE: Red Kites

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

I would expect that at some point in the future these feeding stations might start to scale down the feeding so that the birds begin to spread out a bit.

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Another point worth making here is that although these feeding stations have been excellent for re-establishing colonies of Red Kites in certain areas of the country; they are also preventing them from spreading out to other areas of the country that have little or no population of them. The easy abundance of food at these stations I think makes the birds less likely to go beyond the edges of their territories.

I've actually been told that the Red Kites have been deliberately introduced in various locations to assist them eventually spreading right across the country.

Give it 20 years and.......

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 9th of October 2010 10:05:10 PM

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Another point worth making here is that although these feeding stations have been excellent for re-establishing colonies of Red Kites in certain areas of the country; they are also preventing them from spreading out to other areas of the country that have little or no population of them. The easy abundance of food at these stations I think makes the birds less likely to go beyond the edges of their territories.

graeme robertson · Status: Offline

looks like red kites are on the move from harewood house saw 2 over the the car park of st thresea catholic primary school at cross gates leeds yesterday at 3pm
stayed from a good half hour great to watch
graeme

Matt Potter · Status: Offline

Sarfraz Hayat wrote:

Black Kites are very gregarious but when it comes to nesting they tend to be territorial i believe. I assume the same will be for Red Kites.

Is nt it easier to see Red kites at Harewood House, Leeds than travel to scotland? I think Kites do enjoy feeding together. It makes it more fun for them.

I just look out of the window at home or work to see them! I do live in Mid Wales though which helps!!

Sarfraz Hayat · Status: Offline

Black Kites are very gregarious but when it comes to nesting they tend to be territorial i believe. I assume the same will be for Red Kites.

Is nt it easier to see Red kites at Harewood House, Leeds than travel to scotland? I think Kites do enjoy feeding together. It makes it more fun for them.

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Maybe, as they do a lot of scavenging, they rely to some extent on seeing other birds picking up food, in the same way that vultures and Maribou Storks do.

Dean Macdonald · Status: Offline

The feeding station is at the south end of Loch Ken, which is north of Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway. It's a well publicised site.
If you google birdwatching in Dumfries and Galloway there's an excellent guide to download.

Roy Ganley · Status: Offline

Cheers for that I thought that they would have teritories which they would protect fully , but obviously not.were in Scotland did you go as I would love to see more of these birds

Dean Macdonald · Status: Offline

Roy,
I visited a Red Kite feeding station in Scotland in august. The food is placed on the ground and on feeding tables. There were around 80 Kites in the air and they all fed together quiet happily. During the breeding season when the birds have teritories this may be a different story. There are feeding stations at several locations which attract large numbers of birds. If this tolerance of each other is exclusive to the abundance of food at the stations, i'm not sure.

Dean.

Roy Ganley · Status: Offline

Had to drive to London this morning and set off at 5 am, only plus point was hoping to see a Red Kite on the M40 as caught a couple last time I drove down. Passed Warwick and around dawn wasn't disappointed. over a 10 mile run counted 18 birds , but my question is for my educated members ? I thought that the Red Kite would have its own hunting ground/area yet there were 3-4 together in a space of 100yrds which made me think are they sociable and operate in units and share food? Checked the Collins but no answers.

Apart from that a Common Buzzard , Kestrel & Partridge.