Wildlife

Wild Red Kite Urban Expansion and Welfare

Red kites have successfully recolonised urban and suburban areas across the UK following reintroduction, but face new welfare challenges in human-modified landscapes.

Key Facts

Red kites were reintroduced to England and Scotland from the 1990s
Urban kites face risks from rodenticide poisoning, traffic and supplementary feeding dependency
Illegal persecution including poisoning and trapping remains a conservation threat
Kites are highly adaptable foragers that exploit carrion, invertebrates and garden waste
Nesting success in urban areas can match or exceed rural populations

Welfare Considerations

Urban red kites face a distinct set of welfare pressures from human activity. Public education and rodenticide awareness are essential to sustain population welfare.

What You Can Do

Never use second-generation rodenticides that can poison red kites
Report suspected red kite poisoning to the RSPB Wildlife Crime Unit
Do not feed red kites to prevent over-dependence on supplementary food