Red Kite Feeding Station Bellymack Hill Farm, Laurieston, Castle Douglas, DG7 2PJ, GB
01644 450202
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Kite Facts

Quick Facts   

This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes, and has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. It is an Amber List species because of its historical decline.   

    1. Field Characters & Identification
    Field Characters & IdentificationLatin Name:- Milvus milvus.Type:- Raptor.Length:- 60 - 66cm.Wingspan: 175-195cm Weight:- 800-1,300g   Habitat:- Likes deciduous woodland with...
    2. Nesting & Breeding
    Nesting & BreedingNest:- Dead twigs and lined with grass and other vegetation. A quantity of sheeps wool is often added 2-3 days prior to egg laying. Kites will include plastic bags, litter,...
    3. Conservation Actions
    Conservation action The red kite is subject to the longest continuous conservation project in the world. Concerned individuals, appalled at the continuing destruction of kites, formed the first Kite...
    4. Population trends
    Population trendsThe red kite suffered from intensive human persecution through much of its world range, which is mainly in Europe, until the mid-1950s, but especially so between 1850 and 1900. This...
    5. Legal status & Threats
    Legal status & ThreatsRed Kites and the LawThe red kite is afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to take,...
    6. Sightings of Kites
    Sightings of Kites Any sightings of kites outside the core area around Loch Ken should be reported to the RSPB. All the birds released as a part of the re-introduction programme and...
    Dumfries & Galloway Leader Local Action Group