New members have new skills. If you would like to take an active role in volunteering work with Friends of Red Kites email us via our  "Contact us" page.

Reports via our website Webmail can be followed up.  Reports coming in of sightings from outside the core area will be followed up by our Monitoring Teams.

 

^{Image courtesy of Mick Render}

Causey Gill is ideal habitat for the kites.

^{Image courtesy of June Atkinson}

  As well as watching the kites and recording their location, people find them a wonderful subject for photography.  Here, courtesy of Mick Render, one of our Members, is an image of WT54.  Photographs can be a very useful tool in recording the life and behaviour of the kites.

Important advice for photographers

The Red Kite has a special status along with other birds of prey.     According to the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981,

Definition of a wild bird

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, a wild bird is defined as any bird of a species that is resident in or is a visitor to the European Territory of any member state in a wild state. 

Basic protection

 All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions, to intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird.  

  Schedule 1 - Part I

Birds and their young, for which it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb at, on or near an 'active' nest. Schedule 1 status also infers a right of arrest by a police officer if someone is suspected of committing certain offences against one of these species.

 Fines

The maximum penalty that can be imposed for an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act - in respect of a single bird, nest or egg - is a fine of up to £5,000, and/or six months' imprisonment.

We offer this information now that the birds are becoming more active and establishing their territories within the region.  Care should be exercised when trying to photograph any  kites.  The law states that they must  not be disturbed, especially at a nest site.

 ALERT

We have received this information from Helen Olive, who is in the Chilterns.   Helen has been actively involved in the care and relocation of young chicks to other areas, including ours.

"This photo, unpleasant as it is, shows the remains of an adult red kite tangled up in discarded twine in a tree.

It is unknown whether the kite picked up the twine from the ground, or whether the twine was already entangled in the tree.   This magnificent bird probably suffered a long and painful death whilst trying to set itself free.

I am appealing to those of you who may come across any type of discarded twine or similar, to pick it up and dispose of it in such a way that it doesn't pose a threat to wildlife. "

 Helen Olive  www.redkites.net

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