9/19/2023 0 Comments Red kite foodReintroduced birds bred for the first time in both England and Scotland in 1992.The first reintroductions of red kites to England and Scotland took place in 1989, with the English introductions in the Chilterns, the Scottish birds on the Black Isle.Today the Welsh population is thought to number between 750 and 900 pairs.Careful protection of the Welsh kites helped the native population increase slowly, with 20 breeding pairs in 1967, 30 in 1978, 50 in 1988 and 80 in 1992.In the early 1930s, only two breeding pairs of red kites were known to survive in the British Isles, both in central Wales.The reintroduction of the red kite to England and Scotland has been one of the major conservation success stories of the last 20 years.Finally, the current management of farms and slaughterhouses, as well as the disappearance of dunghills, have reduced drastically the amount of available food for both the winter and reproductive populations. Due to the fact that they frequent human areas (farms, rubbish dumps, etc.) electrocution is a real risk too. Their opportunistic and scavenger feeding strategy makes them very vulnerable to poisoned lures, and intoxication from rodenticides and other substances used for pest control. Numerous causes affect the red kite populations negatively. Castile & Leon are home to approximately half of the Spanish population. In Castile & Leon in 1994 the reproductive population was around 1.800 pairs, in 2004 it descended to 1.100 pairs and the last census in 2008 showed a population of just 877 pairs. The decrease in the reproductive population in the last years continues. In Spain, just over 2.000 pairs were censuses in 2004, only half of the number of 10 years earlier. In 2009 the global population of breeding pairs was estimated at 21.000-25.500, with the largest populations and areas of distribution found in Europe. This species has been suffering a pronounced and continuous decrease in numbers over the last few decades. Although it is found in all of the provinces of Castile & Leon, the largest populations are located in the pen plains of Salamanca and Zamora, and at the foothills and northern slopes of the Central System mainly in Segovia and Avila. In our country they are spread out in three large areas: the peninsular northeast, the western centre of the Peninsula, and the Central System. 90% of the global population is concentrated in Europe, especially in Germany, France and Spain. milvus is restricted to the western Paleartic, and also in a very localized area of northern Africa (Morocco). The global distribution of the subspecies M. Species with two recognized subspecies, one of them, M. Once they leave the nest they are still dependant on their parents for another two to three weeks. The chicks tend to stay at the nest for around 40 to 50 days. They lay the eggs in April, and incubation lasts between 28-30 days. The resident population quickly occupy the nesting spots. Reproduction: It builds its nests in trees, generally of large dimensions, and depending on the region they prefer poplars, pines and oaks. Carrion makes up a large percentage of their diet.ĭaily trophic needs: Estimated at 200 g/day for an adult specimen. Rabbits are of upmost importance in the Mediterranean populations. They capture medium sized prey, from insects to small mammals and birds. Nutrition: Opportunistic species with a very variable diet. The species is very closely associated to human activities and they are seen close to farms, towns, roads, dunghills and rubbish dumps where they obtain food. Habitat: They are gliders, with a great ability for aerial surveillance, frequenting open areas, pastures and crops, where they search for food, and close by forested areas where they nest they also frequent grasslands in the plains or foothills of the sierras with livestock. It’s predominantly of a reddish colour, although with a large array of contrasts and tones, a grey head and whitish primary feathers in the distal part of the wings. It has a high pitched call, heard during courtship, nesting grounds, sleeping areas and feeding grounds. Average sized bird of prey (61-66cm), with an elegant figure, a wingspan which surpasses 1.75m, and a characteristic forked tail.
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