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Red Kites Update:
Wales 2004
Chilterns 2004
Yorkshire 2004
Northamtonshire 2004
Northen Scotland 04
Central Scotland 2004
Earlier reports 2003
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Northen Scotland
Report 2004

Brian Etheridge

For the third year in a row there was no increase in the number of breeding pairs in the North of Scotland re-introduction area - it remains at 35 pairs. From the first breeding attempt by a single pair in 1992 (1 chick reared) the population increased steadily until 1999 when it reached 30 breeding pairs (77 young reared).

The increase slowed down to 35 nesting pairs by 2002 (87 young reared) and has shown no further increase since then despite excellent productivity. It is believed that increased raptor persecution on surrounding grouse-moors has resulted in very poor survival of dispersing young kites (less than 10% are currently reaching breeding age of 2 years). The population is being maintained by high adult survival, which are largely resident.

The figures for 2004 are that 65 known nesting sites were checked of which 42 were found occupied (3 by single adults). One pair contained a one-year bird and failed to breed. 35 pairs laid eggs, 32 hatched young and 30 fledged a total of 80 young. The mean brood size per pair laying was a healthy 2.3. There were in fact 36 nesting attempts; one pair which lost the first clutch soon after laying (nest collapsed), re-laid in a new nest built only 20m from the lost one and successfully reared 2 chicks. These did not fledge until early August. This is the first successful relay attempt in North Scotland; a previous recorded attempt in 1997 failed.

Four other nests collapsed during use. One nest used continuously for 5 years fell out in March and the pair built a replacement nest in exactly the same spot. They went on to rear 3 young. Another one fell out just on the point of hatching and resulted in a total failure. The other two collapses occurred when the young were well feathered and the two broods of 2 and 3 took to the branches. All 5 young fledged successfully. It is believed these nests fell out due to the wet spring/summer weather and by the weight of water absorbed in the nest material of rags and sheep wool.

The 30 successful broods consisted of 11 of 2 young, 18 of 3 and 1 of 4. Forty-nine young were fitted with wing-tags and 20 of these had additional back-pack radio transmitters fitted in a bid to verify why so few young are surviving to adulthood. The sex ratio of the young birds tagged was skewed; 18 males (37%) and 31 females (63%).

By late September dispersing young had been recorded in the Central Scotland reintroduction area (5 birds) and in Southwest Scotland (2 birds) but most of the young remained in the breeding area. In mid October however, 2 of this year's chicks were killed by road traffic, both from the same brood. One was 50 km north of the nest site on the Black Isle and the other was in central Lewis, Outer Hebrides, 150 km NW. This bird is the first record of a Red Kite from the Western Isle chain since the 19th century! Another of this year's chicks was in Mid Wales at Gigrin Farm Red Kite Feeding Station.

Brian Etheridge - RSPB, North Scotland Red Kite Project Officer

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