Red kites were reintroduced to England and Scotland from Wales in the 1990s. Despite spectacular population recovery, illegal poisoning and accidental lead poisoning remain significant welfare concerns.
Lead poisoning causes progressive neurological decline, inability to fly or feed, and eventual death. Post-mortem studies routinely find elevated lead levels in red kites across England. Secondary poisoning from rodenticides affects birds feeding on poisoned mammal carcasses. A switch to non-lead ammunition by all shooters would eliminate the primary poisoning pathway.