Red kites have recovered dramatically in Wales and England. Supplementary feeding stations have aided recovery but raise welfare and dependency questions.
Supplementary feeding during establishment phases of reintroduction programmes provides welfare benefit by reducing starvation risk for released birds unfamiliar with the local landscape. Long-term dependency concerns are more nuanced — red kites are opportunistic scavengers and feeding stations replicate natural carrion availability. Secondary rodenticide poisoning from consuming poisoned mammal carcasses represents the most acute ongoing welfare threat. Birds found moribund from suspected poisoning require immediate veterinary care and evidence preservation for prosecution.