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By the end of the 19th century, Red Kites - sometimes known historically as Paddocks - were extinct in England, but in the last thirty years, the population had boomed.
In the days of Shakespeare, Red Kites were a common sight, and seen as helpful scavengers who would assist in managing the plentiful waste from Medieval towns. A Royal Charter was even passed for their protection. But over the next few centuries, these birds were hunted to extinction, wrongly seen as a threat to game and a contributor to famine in times where food was scarce.
By 1900, they were all but extinct in Britain, with a couple of pairs still living in Wales, but none elsewhere.
The growth of this small band of survivors was not felt to be quick enough, so in 1989, a campaign was launched to reintroduce Red Kites into the wild in England and Scotland.
Yorkshire became heavily involved in these efforts, with the Harewood Estate as site of the 5th Reintroduction Programme. By 2003, the programme had been a massive success. Over 60 birds were released from Harewood, a sharp jump from the 2 released in 1999.
As a result of these conservation efforts, since 1995 the Red Kite population has increased by approximately 2,464%, with the UK being home to around 17% of the world’s population of Red Kites.
To go from extinct in the wild to ‘green’ status within thirty years is an astounding feat. The Harewood re-introduction was so successful that Red Kites are now all over Yorkshire, from the Wolds to the Dales, and are a frequent sight in the sky above towns and villages.
Red Kites are known as scavengers, although their weak talons mean that they mainly rely on carrion or roadkill for food, hence why they often stay near areas with human habitation.
They line their nests with any soft item that catches their eye, and use their tail to steer while in flight. Red Kites are also often confused with Buzzards, another bird of prey native to Yorkshire, and they can be distinguished by their forked tail, where Buzzards have a rounded tail.
Despite this success, Red Kites are still in danger, although the danger to them is less specific now. Hunting parties, rat poison and habitat loss all affect Red Kites, and could put a dent in their numbers if the conditions become severe enough. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Red Kites were forced to adapt their hunting habits as roadkill became less common, and humans stayed in their houses rather than outside dropping scraps.
If nothing else, the pandemic demonstrated how absolutely symbiotic the relationship between humans and animals is.
Now, though, Red Kites are as common a sight as before, wheeling in the sky above the Wolds. The Medieval Royal Charter had it right - these beautiful and majestic birds were and are a vital part of keeping streets sanitary by removing carrion that would otherwise go rotten, so that they can sustain themselves.
Header Image: A North Yorkshire Red Kite (Shutterstock)
