Population and Breeding of Red Kites in Wales Over a 30-Year Period

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Abstract
The remnant population of red kites in central Wales was fairly stable from 1951-1960 and then increased slowly, reaching 98 birds in the spring of 1980. Over the period considered, the breeding rate did not improve (but there were annual fluctuations) and the increase in population could be attributed primarily to reduced net losses of full-grown birds, from recorded annual means of 22%/yr in 1950-1960 to 13% in 1961-1980. Breeding success was generally poor. Indirect evidence suggested that this was due largely to a poor food-supply but human interference was also important in some years. In general, breeding was slightly better in years with high vole populations. The main recorded cause of death among full-grown birds was human persecution, especially poisoning with meat baits, but known deaths may not have been representative of all deaths. The main period of reduced mortality in kites, and the associated increase in their numbers, coincided with a period of extensive afforestation in mid-Wales. This resulted in a greater availability of voles as prey and a reduction in the area over which poisoned baits were used. One or both factors may have facilitated the increase in kite numbers.

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