Recoveries 2001

Welsh Kite Trust

Rescue Attempt

Rodenticide Death

Recent Recoveries

Danger from poisons

Welsh Kite Trust index

RECENT RINGING RECOVERIES
OF WELSH KITES

In addition to the bird mentioned in 'rescue attempt', since the production of the last newsletter the following kites have been reported as dead or injured;

1. Ring number HT16367. Ringed as a single chick in a nest near Devils Bridge in 199. It was last seen alive in a communal roost in Cwmystwyth in October 1989. The ring number was reported to the BTO in 2000 Having been read off a taxidermy specimen in Wrexham, mounted 10 - 12 years previously!! Despite contacting the reporter no extra information could be gained about where or when it was found.

2. Ring number GF99411. Originally ringed as a single chick from a nest near Llangammarch Wells in June 1999. This bird was found freshly dead near Pontardawe on 16th March 2001 some 50kms from where it had been reared. Because of Foot and Mouth restrictions operating at the time this bird has been frozen for later examination. The corpse was in very good condition and there was no obvious cause of death

3. Ring number HT42939. This female was a manipulated chick that hatched from an egg taken from a nest near Devil's Bridge in April 1992 which was fostered into a nest near Tregaron later in the season. It was originally wing-tagged BLACK n, but these were no longer present. She was only ever reported twice after fledging, both times at the Tregaron feeding station in her first winter. It is therefore likely that her tags were lost quite early on. She was found by a local farmer, under power- lines - presumed electrocuted, on 2nd April 2001 near the RSPB's Gwenffrwyd reserve. It is assumed that she was one of a pair which had consistently failed to breed successfully and it is likely that she was infertile.

4. Ring number GF93437. Ringed as a single chick (male) from a brood near Llandyssul in June 1998. Reported dead, by a farmer, near Carmarthen on 22/04/2001 after having been repeatedly attacked by corvids. The farmer also reported that another bird was hanging around and it is likely that this was one of a breeding pair in a new locality. Unfortunately because of Foot and Mouth restrictions it wasn't possible to search for a nest and no other birds were seen on the day the corpse was collected and taken to the Veterinary Investigation Centre in Aberystwyth. A post mortem examination failed to reveal the cause of death, tissue samples were sent for analysis.

5. Ring number GN20764. Ringed as a single chick in a nest near Aberystwyth in June 2000. It was found long dead on a University Farm near Aberystwyth on 2nd May 2001. The post mortem was inconclusive due to the state of decomposition. Tissue samples were sent for analysis.

6. Ring Number GN20794. Ringed as the elder chick of a brood of three near Sennybridge in 2000. It was found grounded near Llandyssul on 28/03/2001 by the son of Dr Nick Fox who does the hatching and rearing of our rescued kites. After a few weeks rest and recuperation at Nick's Falcon Facility near Carmarthen it was released back where it was found on 13/04/2001.

7. Ring number GN20832. This bird was ringed as a single chick at a nest near Llandovery in June 2000. It was found grounded, after violent storms, on Mynydd Llanllwni on 3rd November 2000 and was taken to Gower Bird Hospital by the RSPCA and later released where it was found on 6th after having gained considerable weight.

In addition an unringed juvenile was found grounded by a farmer near Tregaron on 9th March 2001 and handed to Ian Tillotson, retired head warden for the Countryside Council for Wales. The bird was checked over by Ystwyth Vets who could find nothing wrong with it. After a few days in care with a regular food supply it was rearing to go. It was ringed prior to release and flew away strongly.
Our thanks are due to Ian for all his efforts.

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