The red kite is one of the UKs greatest conservation success stories, recovered from near-extinction through reintroduction and protection, though ongoing threats from illegal poisoning and supplementary feeding issues remain.
Red kite welfare encompasses both the direct threats from illegal poisoning and the subtler welfare implications of population recovery in a human-modified landscape. Poisoned red kites experience severe neurological symptoms before death — one of the most painful wildlife deaths documented. Lead poisoning from shot game causes chronic neurological damage and death in birds that consume contaminated food. Supplementary feeding stations, while well-intentioned, can reduce foraging behaviour and create unhealthy dependence in birds that should be self-sufficient. The balance of natural and supplementary food sources matters for red kite welfare as well as their long-term conservation status.