Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Outdoor News and Events => Topic started by: admin on November 11, 2009
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A red kite has been deliberately poisoned in County Down.
The dead animal was found a month ago beside a rabbit's carcass which had been laced with illegal poison.
Robert Straughan, the RSPB's Red Kite Officer, said the bird had been released as part of the RSPB's 2008 red kite reintroduction programme.
Mr Straughan said the bird was less than six months old and was the second to have recently been poisoned with alphachloralose.
So far, five red kites have died since the programme was launched in July 2008.
The three-year reintroduction project released 80 red kites, which should be enough to establish the bird as a thriving breeding population.
"It is very sad when we do lose a bird, especially if it is to something which is preventable," Mr Straughan said.
"They were extinct for almost 200 years in Northern Ireland due to persecution.
"There has been tremendous support for them since the first release last year and we hope that people do all they can to ensure that they can re-establish themselves here again."
Police have appealed for anyone with information concerning the incident to contact them.
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8351430.stm
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who would do such a thing?
ive heard of pigeon racers poisoning cats that sculk about near their bird cages.
do red kites prey on racing pigeons ?
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do red kites prey on racing pigeons ?
I found this on the internerd: "Red kites eat mainly dead animals that they are able to find (carrion), being too weak-footed to kill any prey much bigger than a small rabbit. They will also feed on chicks, small mammals and invertebrates such as beetles and earthworms.
The kite hunts by flying low over open country, using the forked tail to steer, twisting it like a rudder. Live prey is usually caught by surprise rather than speed, although kites sometimes make fast, twisting chases.
" http://www.chilternsaonb.org/downloads/publications/RedKitefactsheet.pdf (http://www.chilternsaonb.org/downloads/publications/RedKitefactsheet.pdf)
So I would imagine pigeons are maybe too fast for a kite. Maybe?
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Interesting section on BBC Radio Ulster yesterday morning about this. http://tinyurl.com/ygqcnoe (http://tinyurl.com/ygqcnoe)