Issue 24 - September 2012 (PDF) - Chipping Norton Times

conservation is important, and sometimes we do need to make hard
decisions. It’s just that these decisions need to be backed up by rigorous
scientific research, and at the moment it seems, despite the claims of some,
that research is exonerating raptors like the red kite, corvids (crows and
magpies, for example) and grey squirrels from the large-scale declines in
songbirds (never mind dogs and small children) that we have seen in recent
decades. Our most destructive predator by far is the domestic cat, and the
biggest drains on our birds’ numbers generally are cold, hunger and
disease. I would argue that the most obvious downside to the return of the
red kite is their potential to cause serious accidents on the M40 because they
are so good at drawing our gaze away from the road!
My sister in law is one of the many who are in awe of the beauty of red
kites. At least she was until she discovered that they were carrion feeders,
which seemed to tarnish their nobility in her eyes. I think this is harsh.
Ihaveatendencytopolishoffmychildren’sleftoversatmealtimes,but
don’t consider this overly damaging to my reputation – we all have our
proclivities. Although they are renowned scavengers, kites will take live
prey, from bird nestlings to small mammals like voles, rats and young
rabbits. An important part of their diet, though, is earthworms, as it is
for buzzards.
The red kites’ return to our landscapes coincides with the expansion of the
ranges of buzzards and ravens, birds which should have a considerable
overlap in terms of their feeding ecology. This suggests that food is not, at
this stage, a limiting resource. All are carrion specialists, particularly kites
and ravens, which is one reason (but there are more fundamental ones) why
they should not be vilified and victimised just because they are doing well
at the moment. They are, in truth, rather poor hunters, and their predation
levels on farmed pheasants are likely to be very low indeed. In the UK we
host several wildlife conservation organisations that try hard to persuade
people in other countries to protect and live alongside their wildlife (take
tigers in India – which can actually kill people – or crop-raiding elephants
in Africa and Asia) and yet we seem to be unable to live alongside creatures
like otters, kites and buzzards in our own backyard.
Let’s learn to practice what we preach. I hope that we will be able to
appreciate this bird for what it is – a spectacular and natural part of our
landscape and ecology, and a symbol of successful conservation measures
of which we should be very proud.
Red kites may exchange food in mid-air as
part of their courtship
All photographs © Mike Boyes
If you are interested in volunteering to
help wildlife in the Cotswolds, please
contact me at:
will.masefield@gloucestershirewildlife
trust.co.uk, 07793 307056.
Visit our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/gwtcotswolds.
For wider volunteering opportunities,
to become a member of Gloucestershire
Wildlife Trust or to take part in our
events throughout the year, visit
www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk
or ring 01452 383333.
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