Red Kite poison warning
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Brian Etheridge with red kite fledgling.
THE RSPB this week appealed to farmers to be vigilant over the use of rodenticides following incidents on the Black Isle and in Easter Ross last year when 11 red kite chicks were found poisoned.
Brian Etheridge, the RSPB’s Red Kite Officer for North Scotland, said he was issuing the warning as the kites were now starting to pair up and chicks would be appearing soon.
Last summer, Mr Etheridge visited four separate nests and discovered 11 chicks either dead or dying following ingestion of rodent carcasses contaminated with rat poison.
He said: "We are very anxious to prevent a repetition of what happened last year. Red kites are beginning to pair up and select nest sites. Soon they will be laying and the chicks will be hatching. Last year was devastating as those 11 chicks represented over 10 per cent of the total red kite chicks produced in the area.
"Rodenticide poisoning is a particularly painful way for any animal to die. Most rodenticides contain anticoagulants, which gather in the liver of an animal causing heavy internal bleeding. Young red kite chicks undergo a particularly fast growing phase and require a rapid circulatory system in order to grow healthily. 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. "
Kites are predominantly scavengers, meaning they like to scour the countryside for dead animals to feed upon. However this lifestyle can make them vulnerable to the use of poisons in the countryside as their keen eye-sights very quickly pick out dead carcasses from great heights. Sadly, said Mr Etheridge,this includes rats and mice which have been legally poisoned, requiring vigilance on behalf of people who use rodenticides on their property.
He said the unnecessary deaths of an already rare and vulnerable species could be prevneted by using appropriate ways to control rodent infestation.
To that end, the RSPB has produced an information leaflet on how to effectively control rodent infestation in a responsible way.
The free leaflet can be obtained by contacting the RSPB on (01463) 715000 or by email at nsro@rspb.org.uk.
