What to look for Where can I see Red kites have a huge wingspan of up to five and a half feet (1.75 metres) so in flight they are Northern Ireland’s hard to miss! The only bird that red kites can red kites? really be mistaken for is the buzzard. Northern Ireland Most likely soaring over open farmland, where they prefer to hunt and scavenge for food. This Red kite map shows some of the places where, with some Reddish brown with patience and perseverance, you have the best black wingtips and a chance of seeing these wonderful birds. grey head, they flap their long, narrow wings slowly and bend Ballynahinch them slightly when soaring. Red kites use A1 Drumaness their v-shaped tail like Banbridge A24 a rudder, twisting it to turn through the air on Loughbrickland thermals. Their call is Katesbridge A50 a long whistle. Moneyslane Clough A25 Rathfriland Dundrum A1 Castlewellan A25 Kilcoo Newcastle Hilltown B 27 B8 Newry

Buzzard Brown, varying from pale RSPB Northern Ireland Headquarters to dark, with broad wings Tel: 028 9049 1547 and a fan-shaped tail. rspb.org.uk/northernireland Buzzards fly with quicker Working together to give nature a home: Northern wingbeats and soar with straighter wings. Much more vocal than red kites, buzzards have Ireland’s a loud mewing call. red kites Northern Ireland These magnificent birds Front cover red kite by Jenny Hibbert and illustrations by Mike Langman (both rspb-images.com). Red kite Pink e in flight of prey need your help. in Northern Ireland by Kendrew Colhoun.

The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. 840-1128-17-18 What’s the story? What can you do Red kites were once common in Great Britain and to help? Ireland, but 200 years ago, these majestic birds of prey were persecuted to extinction across the island of Ireland, Scotland and England. Back then, Volunteer with us. people incorrectly believed that the birds were a If you can give some of your free time to help threat to livestock and game, so bounties were the R Kites project and give these amazing birds offered for every kite killed. Despite this, a small of prey a fighting chance, please get in touch population of wild red kites managed to survive, by e-mailing [email protected] on the edge of extinction, in the valleys of mid- or phone 028 9049 1547. Wales. And over time, the Welsh population of red kites recovered and grew in size – but We need volunteers who are willing to: it was unlikely that they would ever return • monitor red kite roost sites over the here without some help. winter months • record any sightings of the birds • identify and monitor their nest sites Bringing red over the breeding season. kites home We’ll give you the knowledge and support you need to do this work – all you need is In 2008, RSPB Northern Ireland, the Golden Eagle enthusiasm and dedication to be part of the Trust and the Welsh Kite Trust began an ambitious team helping to ensure the future of our red reintroduction project to help bring magnificent kites in Northern Ireland. red kites back to Northern Ireland. Chicks were relocated to Ireland and Northern Ireland from donor stock in Wales, and released at a site in Seen a red kite? Wicklow and in Castlewellan Forest Park. In 2010, we were delighted when the first five wild red kite Each known red kite in Northern Ireland is chicks to hatch in Northern Ireland in more than target mainly consists of beetles, frogs, rats, mice fitted with a brown tag on their left wing and 200 years took to the skies above County Down. and earthworms. In spring, they may take the a coloured tag on their right wing, to show the chicks of other birds that nest in high, open places, year it hatched (for example, pink for 2009; black such as crows, rooks and magpies. for 2017). The tags are made from flexible PVC Get to know your kites with a number or letter printed on them. Please report all your Northern Ireland red kite Red kites are primarily scavengers, so a big part sightings to [email protected] and tell us: of their diet is made up of dead animals (carrion), What’s the problem? including road-kill. They also follow tractors when Our project to give red kites a home in Northern • the time, date and location of your sighting farmers are cutting fields or ploughing, swooping Ireland has suffered some real setbacks. Red • the wing tag colours down to grab any small animals that have been kites, like all other birds of prey, are protected by • the wing tag letter or number combination killed by the mowers or brought to the surface. law and to harm, disturb or kill them is a criminal offence. On several occasions since the start of the Sightings of untagged kites, or where you can’t They don’t have the power, speed or strength reintroduction, red kites have been deliberately and read the tags, are also extremely important. to kill anything larger than a young rabbit, so are illegally shot and poisoned – and these are just some Please report those too. Thank you for your help. no threat to livestock or game: the live prey they of the incidents that we know about.