The story of the protection of the Red Kites of Wales is the longest running story of protection of a bird species anywhere in the world. The RSPB has been continuously involved in this protection since at least 1905.
In 1922 the RSPB took over the responsibility for paying bounties to landowners for successful nests. These payments continued until bounties were discontinued in 1990.
During 1975 and 1985 the RSPB took over the organisation of nest protection from local people - landowners and others - who had organised it up until then.
From 1971 RSPB staff jointly chaired the Kite Committee until it was disbanded in 1991. This important Committee was responsible for all matters to do with kite protection and conservation in Wales.
The Red Kite has been researched more fully than any other bird of prey in Britain.
In the late 1985 the RSPB undertook to establish the causes for the continuing failure of many nests each year adding to earlier programmes undertaken by statutory bodies looking at other aspects of kite ecology.
