Kites in the skies

In a quiet patch of farmland in east Dorset we're watching a majestic pair of Red Kites.

Red kite incubating its eggs in early Spring

Today we've arrived to climb up to the nest to assess the birds, and with tree climbing expert James to ring the chicks and take measurements. This is particularly interesting as red kites are still rare in Dorset.

Once common across the whole of the UK in Medieval times, kites helped keep the streets clean of carrion. Mentioned in the writings of both Chaucer and Shakespeare, kites were heavily hunted and became confined to a tiny population in central Wales. Protection of the last breeding pairs began as far back as 1903 (see here) with additional pressures taking it down to maybe a single breeding pair.

Thankfully, the change in use of organochlorine pesticides and reintroduction programs around the UK in the 1990's led to red kites are becoming a more common sight in the skies. Dorset birds are a consequence of translocations to the Chilterns which have spread to Dorset. With their population now growing slowly, they are becoming a more common sight. Check out Dorset Wildlife Trust's page for some cool kite facts.

Red kite chicks snoozing in the nest

Kites like to nest in tall trees. Often they nest in some rather 'interesting' places and today's pair proved no exception. Back in early Spring when the trees were bare, the adult was clearly visible on the nest. Now, high up in an old, ivy-covered sycamore, the nest was much more hidden and was a typical jumble of sticks, half-eaten food items and various items of trash that it seems kites just can help collecting. You might remember BBC Springwatch a few years back when they featured a pair of kites that had pilfered items of washing off the line in someone's back garden including ladies underwear to line its nest! Our pair was a little more modest with just some bits of rubbish in there.

Red kite chicks close to fledging in their messy nest

The nest contained three fine, strong young kites all but fully feathered, in readiness for  leaving the nest. Using special equipment, our climber scaled the tree so that he could carefully lower the chicks to the ground where our licensed ringer took biometrics and fitted each bird with a unique, lightweight metal BTO ring on the right 'ankle'. Wing and weight measurements were also taken and then the birds were carefully returned to the comfort of their nest. Packing up, we headed home to upload the data.

In a matter of a few more days the birds will be testing out their new wings and learning how to soar in our skies. And with a bit of luck, after a year or two of wandering they may well make home somewhere nearby in the county. Fly well young kites and all the best!

Thanks for reading and please do contact us with any interesting sightings you have.

Red kite soaring in the sky