RED KITE IN SHROPSHIRE - 2006 PROGRESS REPORT

YOUNG RED KITES FLY IN SHROPSHIRE

THE FIRST SINCE 1876.

Based on a press release issued by the Welsh Kite Trust on 31st July 2006

At last, young Red Kites have flown from a nest in Shropshire , the first since a nest near Ludlow in 1876. The parents are almost certainly birds from Wales. It is particularly fitting that it is these native birds that have re-colonised Shropshire as the 1876 record was the last known breeding of kites before they became extinct in England as a result of sustained persecution.

Two nests were found in the South Shropshire Hills last year, but no young were raised. A pair returned to one of these sites this spring, and laid eggs in late April. The two young have just fledged successfully.

The nest was found and monitored on behalf of the Welsh Kite Trust by Leo Smith, a Shropshire ornithologist living in Bishop’s Castle. Leo said “It was a real thrill seeing the Kites settle down again this year, and even better when chicks were visible in the nest. It’s especially good that two chicks fledged.

The two Shropshire Red Kites that fledged in 2006 - Note it shows the remains of a young crow and a young magpie - the staple diet - photo © Tony Cross Not to be reproduced without permission.

“Lots of people have telephoned me (LS) with kite sightings this year. I’d like to thank them all, and ask them to keep reporting them in future years. We expect the number of nesting pairs to increase, and it would be nice to keep track of the whole population. 

“Kites have been known to desert their nest if they are disturbed frequently, and they still suffer from egg collecting, so sites will be kept strictly confidential”.

Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust said “Red Kites almost became extinct in Britain 100 years ago and the remnant population, in Wales, remained at a very low level until the mid 1980s. Recently they have spread from their stronghold in the central Cambrian Mountains near Tregaron and Rhayader and there are now well over 500 pairs, with several Welsh nest sites close to the Shropshire border. There is a lot of suitable breeding habitat in the Shropshire Hills so we expect the population to increase.

 “Kites have been reported from many parts of Shropshire for several years, and it is possible that there are other nests we don’t know about. If anyone has been keeping this knowledge quiet, for the best of reasons, we would be very pleased to hear from them. We will treat the information with the utmost confidence”.

"We have ringed and tagged these chicks so that we can keep an eye on their progress now that they have left the nest. Any sightings of tagged Kites either in Shropshire or elsewhere in Wales and the Marches would be gratefully received".

In addition to the successful nest mentioned above, Kites were seen in the vicinity of the second of last year’s sites, but they probably nested back in Wales. No other evidence of nesting was found in the County, but they have been seen increasingly in the last few years, particularly in the south Shropshire Hills.

If anyone sees Kites regularly in Shropshire, please ring The Welsh Kite Trust Office on 01597 825981, or Leo Smith on 01588 638577. Any reports we receive will be treated with total and absolute confidence. Kites can be shy when nesting and are still at risk from egg collecting so nest sites are kept strictly confidential.

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