Red Kite's Year (eBook)

lt;p>Ian Carter worked as an ornithologist for Natural England and its predecessors for over 25 years before taking early retirement. He has a long history of involvement with raptor conservation, including the reintroduction of the Red Kite.

Dan Powell is an award-winning wildlife artist and naturalist, whose drawings and paintings have been published in numerous books and journals.

Foreword by Mark Avery

Acknowledgements

Introduction

     The artworks

January

Winter food; Coping with severe weather

February

The first signs of spring; The pair bond and age of first breeding; Courtship behaviour and calling; Male or female?

History in Britain

Early history; A decline in fortunes; The road to recovery – Red Kite protection in Wales

March

Faithfulness to breeding sites; Nest building; Nest spacing and breeding density

April

Final touches to the nest; Eggs and incubation; Nest decoration; Defence of the nest

The Red Kite reintroduction programme

Early reintroduction attempts; Planning the restoration to England and Scotland; Collecting young and care in captivity; Release into the wild; Progress so far; Further release projects; The wider benefits of reintroduction; Bringing back the Red Kite – a project officer’s perspective; The future

May

Care of small chicks; Studies of food in the breeding season; Foraging range and habitat use

June

The growing brood; Preparations for the first flight

July

Leaving the nest; Towards independence; Red Kite adoptions; Measuring breeding success

Threats and problems

Illegal persecution; Accidental poisoning; Egg collecting; Collisions and accidents; Powerlines

August

Fending for themselves; Plumage differences; The annual moult; A lull in activity

September

Wanderlust; The Red Kite as a migrant; and The use of new technology

To feed or not to feed? Changes in legislation; Red Kite feeding stations; Feeding in gardens

October

The communal roost; Attendance patterns; The daily routine

November

The benefits of communal roosting; Social interactions and play at roosts

December

A wildlife spectacle; and The influence of weather on roosting behaviour World status Northern Europe; Northwest Europe; Central and eastern Europe; Southern Europe; The future

Further reading

Sources of further information

Species mentioned in the text

Index