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Aberdeen red kites |
Frequently asked questions
What are red kites – what makes them special?Red kites are one of Scotland’s most beautiful and inspirational birds. One of the UK’s largest birds of prey, they are unusually colourful and with their wing span of almost two metres and their long forked tails they are spectacularly aerobatic in flight. What will they eat?In captivity, the young birds will be fed only ‘wild’ food such as dead rabbits, road kills, venison, and a wide range of naturally occurring food. In the countryside, carrion makes up a very high proportion of their diet, but they will take some live prey such as small rodents and earthworms when the opportunities arises. Why Aberdeen?The outskirts of Aberdeen are a good location for the birds. There is suitable habitat and a great deal of potential prey to allow them to successfully colonise the area. The release will also complement the geographical spread of the overall Scottish reintroduction, following releases in the Black Isle, Dumfries and Galloway and Central Scotland. When will the birds be released?They will be released at the end of July/early August. The exact date will depend on the development of the chicks. Where have the Aberdeen Red Kites comes from?The birds that have been brought to Aberdeen have come from existing populations in the Chilterns, the Black Isle and Central Scotland. Where will they go once they are released?The birds will disperse from the release site and could be seen anywhere on the outskirts of Aberdeen and in Lower Deeside. As they become more adventurous, they will undoubtedly travel more further afield. How far will they go?We know from other reintroductions that some of the young birds will naturally disperse during their first couple of years. In general, birds from the Chilterns and central Scotland, derived largely from Spanish stock, are more sedentary, whereas birds from North Scotland wander more, as they are derived from a more migratory Swedish stock. They are likely to return to Aberdeen as they get older and are ready to breed. |
Hummingbird hawkmoth - Steve Round
Tree sparrow perched on branch in woodland - Sue Tranter (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1018091)