Eight red kite chicks found poisoned

Published on Tuesday 13 July 2010 17:44

EIGHT rare red kite chicks have died after they were accidentally given poisoned food by adult birds.

The youngsters were found in three separate nests in the Black Isle, where the first red kite reintroduction programme in Scotland started in 1989.

They represent nearly 10 per cent of the total red kite chicks produced in the region this year and their deaths are a serious setback to efforts to re-establish a viable population of the birds, which are already under serious threat from deliberate and illegal killings.

Brian Etheridge, who has been monitoring the reintroduced population for 15 years, believes adult birds have been feeding their growing chicks with the carcases of pests such as rats that have been targeted with poisons known as rodenticides.

"This incident is devastating for the Black Isle red kite population," he said.

Mr Etheridge discovered the eight chicks dead or dying, bleeding from the beak and from the base of their feathers, resulting from internal haemorrhaging.

He said: "These young birds were displaying classic symptoms of rodenticide poisoning, a particularly painful way for any animal to die.

"Many rodenticides contain anticoagulants, which gather in the liver of an animal causing heavy internal bleeding.

"Anything that interferes with the blood supply of a young kite is of serious concern and, sadly, in every instance, these rodenticides have proven fatal to them."

Mr Etheridge said the chicks were quite big and very close to leaving the nest. He believes the real number of chicks affected may be higher.

He said: "Chicks which die from rodenticides when very small may be removed from the nest by the adults and the cause of nest failure will be never be known."

The RSPB said there was a legitimate need for rat populations to be controlled in many areas, particularly around farm buildings and other rural sites.

However, kites are predominantly scavengers and like to scour the countryside for dead animals to feed upon, which makes them vulnerable to the use of poisons.

Mr Etheridge added: "This lifestyle can unfortunately make them vulnerable to the use of poisons in our countryside, as their keen eyesights very quickly pick out dead carcases from great heights.

"Sadly, this includes animals which have been poisoned, requiring vigilance on behalf of people who use rodenticides on their property.

"People can prevent the unnecessary deaths of an already rare and vulnerable species as well as injury and death of other wildlife, including their own pets, by seeking appropriate ways to control rodent infestation.

"There is no doubt in my mind these latest poisoning cases are just tragic accidents, but by making informed choices about pest control, we will be able to reduce rat numbers effectively as well as preventing unnecessary damage to our local wildlife".

The RSPB has produced an information leaflet on how to effectively control rodent infestation in a responsible way.

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