Red kite chicks sent to Spain to boost numbers

After raptor populations soar in the UK, babies are taken to Spain.

Red kite chicks are being flown to Spain in an attempt to help the dwindling population of the raptors in the country. Red kites are majestic birds of prey. With a forked tail and unmistakable dark red feathers, these birds of prey can be spotted in England, Scotland and Wales. However, in the 1980s they were almost wiped out across the UK.

A reintroduction programme in the 1990s saw red kites brought from Spain released into the Chiltern Hills, in southern England. It proved so effective that there are now more than 4,000 in England. Dr Ian Evans, from the Government organisation Natural England, said, “Those birds we took from Spain in the 90s have done really well in Britain – we’re talking 4,000-plus pairs in the UK now, which is an incredible success story.”

Although these raptors have bounced back in the UK, they are now struggling in some parts of Spain. The Spanish red kite population has fallen due to a lack of food, among other factors. To try and boost the numbers, 15 baby chicks were flown to

Madrid to be released in the regions of Extremadura and Andalusia during the week of 20 June, and another 15 will be sent in the next few months. “You need to find 90 to100 birds to create a sustainable population in a given area,” said

Duncan Orr-ewing from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

At the moment, the chicks are too young to be released into the wild. They will need to perfect their flying skills in aviaries (large enclosures for birds) before being fitted with devices that monitor their activity and how they adapt to their new habitat. Speaking of the importance of the project, Dr Evans said releasing them in the wild in Spain was to “secure the future of kites globally”.

Young red kites.

Red kites have distinctive dark red feathers.