Coping with the unexpected is perhaps the nest watchers' most difficult job. Landowners with long-established nests are a positive asset as they are well-versed in the requirements of their breeding pair, but changes in woodland ownership can cause problems; grant-aided woodland management schemes, promoted by the various bodies with an interest in Welsh woodland, and undertaken under contract, may commence without warning in the middle of the breeding season, with potentially disastrous consequences. Consultation is difficult when large numbers of individuals have to be contacted, and the WKT are still looking for a mechanism whereby this can be successfully accomplished.
Also of concern, in its affect on nesting kites, is the increasing activity of the Public Utilities. Many of the large companies which operate in the Mid Wales countryside are now much more cooperative and are mindful of the need to comply with current wildlife legislation. In this context an interesting example recently occurred involving kites nesting alongside a freshly-felled woodland ride, created to allow the installation of a new overhead power-line.
Early in the year, when checking known sites for nesting activity, we found that a wide swath of trees had recently been felled through a piece of woodland supporting resident kites. A walk through the wood confirmed our worst fears - a nest was under construction in a tree some twenty metres from the ride and recently erected power-line transmission poles. Work on the installation of the overhead cables was progressing across the valley and was clearly marching relentlessly towards the critical area. Immediate contact with the project engineer of SPPowersystems (SPP) revealed that they were unaware of the presence of the kites. The company had already made major adjustments to the project in order to accommodate badgers and bats, detected during an 'out of kite season' ecological survey. Aware of possible disturbance to the kites from the installation of the power-cables, crisis action was called for. Should the company be asked to cease operations, which would have involved a very expensive delay of several months, or should they be advised to proceed in the hope that the kites would be unaffected?
As the Red Kite is a Schedule 1 bird, 'wilful' disturbance of an occupied nest is an offence carrying a heavy penalty, including potential imprisonment. Some disturbance can be permitted, but only under licence, as all 'nest watchers' will know since they have to carry a Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) licence whenever they visit nests. However in our wood we were not just monitoring a nest, we were faced with the very real possibility of having 2-3 days of continuous disturbance. After much heart-searching and following wide consultation within the WKT we concluded that as long as the birds had not laid there was a good chance that they would tolerate the planned disturbance. Since it was early in the breeding season (March) there was a good chance that they would build a repeat nest elsewhere if they were scared off. As such we informed SPP that it could proceed with the installation of the cables, provided the necessary licence could be obtained and the planned work was carried out immediately.
The licence application rapidly progressed through the regional and head office of CCW (Bangor) only to be brought to an abrupt halt. As the application was being made by a non-scientific organisation, i.e. a construction company, a licence could only be granted by the Welsh Assembly Government - a big problem on a Friday afternoon! Meanwhile SPP had prepared their engineers to carry out the installation over the weekend in order to meet our advice that work proceeds immediately. All was not lost - after much discussion it was finally agreed by the 'powers that be', that if the Trust could monitor the operations, and in our opinion no disturbance was being caused, then it could go ahead (pending the arrival of the licence). This was however on the understanding that if, in the opinion of WKT the installation was seen to be causing distress to the nesting kites, work should cease immediately.
Early the following morning we were on site to start watching. The birds were present, circling the tree-tops and regularly dropping in to the nest area. The line construction gang soon arrived. Following a discussion on their requirements a plan of action was agreed upon to minimise disturbance. This involved deciding upon the access, distance of vehicular approach, pole climbing activities and timing of operations. The team were very interested in our breeding kites - the majority of workers came from other areas of the country, or from overseas, and were not familiar with the bird - and were most accommodating to our suggestions and conscious of the conservation requirements. Then followed some eight hours of watching - for the most, under increasingly cold weather conditions. Throughout the course of the day the birds were fairly active and showed no great concern for the work, at that stage mainly around the periphery of the woodland. A critical phase arrived in the afternoon when the linesmen started to climb the poles to install the transmission line insulators. Fortunately at that time the birds were seen to leave the wood heading in an easterly direction, towards a local feeding station and were not therefore present when the poles were climbed. They duly reappeared later in the afternoon but after work had progressed beyond the immediate area. After some eight hours of monitoring we were informed that operations were drawing to a halt and would recommence next morning.
On site at the crack of dawn we were pleased to see the kites were still active and showing no signs of disturbance. Soon the contractors arrived for the 'big haul' - dragging first a tow-line over the pole brackets and then the cable. The first stage went with only minor hitches before lunch but by this time it was clear that the weather was taking a turn for the worse as winds increased to near gale force. The kites were enjoying the wind, circling and diving in to the treetops but for the 'line-gang' things were beginning to get difficult. Pulling of the main line was started and in spite of the wind was successfully hitched to the first pole, the one nearest the nest. Progress then came to an abrupt halt. The high winds had brought down power-lines across the country, so the line constructors were being called away to try to restore power in other localities. Home to the warmth and a very late dinner!
An early visit the following day showed no signs of the engineers but the kites were displaying above the treetops. Phone calls confirmed that the linesmen were still involved in the restoration of power to parts of North Wales and that work should recommence the following day. Thus, five days from our initial discovery of the threat, work was completed. The kites had taken everything in their stride and did not appear unduly disturbed.
During the following two months, whenever access to the area was required for final inspections before the line 'went live', the contractors consulted us first. As a nearby woodland path was frequently used by the public and the kites did not appear to be disturbed by walkers, and as the leaves had now fully emerged on the trees screening the nest, we concurred. Regular visits over the next couple of months confirmed that the hen had eventually laid and settled down to incubation, the male in close attendance.
After all our efforts, and after obtaining the full co-operation of SPPowersystems it would be a most satisfactory conclusion if we could report that young birds had fledged. Unfortunately the nest failed for reasons unknown; the hen incubated full-term, which suggests that the eggs may have failed to hatch.
