The Welsh Kite Trust

2002 Reports.  Welsh re-colonisation continues:
First proven breeding of Red Kites in Pembrokeshire for nearly a century

Although nesting in Pembrokeshire has been suspected for a couple of years now these are the first two confirmed nests. Landowners at both sites reported having had the birds present for at least the previous season. Other outlying pairs also established themselves and as well as the Pembrokeshire birds other significant range expansions occurred in both in the north and south of the range.

Amazingly, despite the atrocious weather experienced, it is clear that the kites in Wales had a good breeding season. During the year a total of 292 new or previously occupied territories were checked and 250 were thought to be occupied. A minimum of 217 of these territories held an active nest and eggs were laid in at least 205. There is no information yet for an additional 98 territories which have been occupied in recent years - most of these were probably either not checked or not occupied.

Of the 205 egg nests at least 143 (70%) hatched at least one chick and at least 128 (62.7% of all nests or 89.5% of chick nests) subsequently fledged at least one young. Brood sizes at the 85 nests where the tree was climbed were 5 x 3, 27 x 2 and 53 x 1 (mean brood size 1.44). At 55 additional nests the brood size was given, although obviously there was room for error if the nest was not examined closely. At these 55 nests recorded brood sizes were 13 x 2 and 30 x 1 (mean brood size 1.30). The combined figures were 5 x 3, 40 x 2 and 83 x 1 giving a mean of 1.39 chicks per successful nest (0.87chicks /egg laying pair).

A total of 64 egg laying pairs definitely failed (31.4%) and the outcome at a further 12 were uncertain. Nest failure rates seemed to be higher in the south and southwest where Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Breconshire recorded much higher rainfall than average although this needs to be examined more closely. Nest success and productivity elsewhere were perhaps higher than might have been expected given the weather conditions, and were certainly good when compared to Peregrines and Goshawks which had a very poor year.

A total of 120 of the 179 chicks known to fledge were ringed with BTO rings and 115 of them were also fitted with patagial tags, black on the left wing and white on the right. A black tag on the left wing is the new area code for Wales (although unfortunately four chicks in Wiltshire were also tagged with a similar combination). To date some 40+ have been seen away from the nest although none at any great distance. A tagged juvenile was seen at Betws-y-coed and the nearest it could have come from was just south of the Dyfi Estuary.

There were a few range expansions into Pembrokeshire, SE Breconshire and Caernarfonshire.