Red Kite Welfare: From Extinction to Abundance

Red kites are one of Britain's greatest conservation successes — their welfare now focuses on ongoing lead poisoning and illegal persecution.

Key Facts

• Red kites were reintroduced to England and Scotland from 1989 after extinction as a UK breeding bird
• The population has grown to over 6,000 pairs across the UK — a spectacular conservation achievement
• Lead poisoning from ingested shot in carrion is the single largest ongoing welfare cause of mortality
• Red kites remain illegally persecuted in some areas, particularly near driven grouse moors
• Supplementary feeding stations have supported population establishment and continue as welfare support

Welfare Considerations

Red kite welfare post-reintroduction faces two persistent threats. Lead poisoning from secondary ingestion of lead shot in carrion (game birds, rabbits) causes neurological deterioration, weakness, and death — blood testing of recovered kites consistently shows elevated lead levels, and post-mortems demonstrate lead toxicity as a leading cause of mortality. Illegal persecution through poisoning, shooting, and trapping continues in some areas, causing direct mortality and ongoing welfare harm through fear responses and population disruption. The transition from non-toxic shot alternatives (steel, bismuth, tungsten) in shooting is the most impactful single welfare intervention available for red kites — removing lead from the food chain eliminates their primary ongoing cause of preventable mortality.

What You Can Do

• Report any suspected red kite persecution or poisoning to the RSPB or police immediately
• Advocate for mandatory transition to non-toxic shot alternatives to reduce lead poisoning of scavengers
• Record red kite sightings to contribute to population monitoring across their expanding range
• Support supplementary feeding stations in areas where kites are still establishing
• Engage with shooting community organizations about voluntary lead shot reduction programs