The Welsh Kite Trust

Wardening and Monitoring

With the population now exceeding 250 pairs it is no longer possible or even necessary to closely guard every nest.

Nest protection schemes may be set up in circumstances where a nest is known to be the target of egg-collectors or is in danger of being disturbed by otherwise well-meaning visitors.
The great majority of kites nesting in Wales are now left to look after themselves under the watchful eye of the landowner, with occasional visits from a member of the Welsh Kite Watchers` Group.

The Watchers have two main duties:

1). Collecting Nest Records: Each year members of the Welsh Kite Watchers Group go out and attempt to find as many breeding pairs as they can and record how many of these pairs build nests, lay eggs and hatch chicks, and the number of young fledging from them. This means that Watchers have to search the countryside for nests every March and April so that they can record the details of the nest during its active life; this includes making enquiries about ownership because it is accepted that watchers should not enter private land without the ownerÎs permission. At the end of the breeding season, the Kite recorder assembles all the records collected by the watchers, calculates the rate of breeding success and estimates whether there has been an increase or a decrease in the overall number of kites in Wales. New extensions in the range occupied by Welsh kites are also recorded.

2). Nest Protection: The Red Kite has made a remarkable comeback in Wales but it is still a rare bird in Britain and is also an internationally endangered species. So we must ensure that as many young kites as possible are produced each year. Watchers, by keeping in close contact with landowners and others associated with the kite nesting areas, attempt to ensure that unnecessary disturbance is kept to an absolute minimum. Noisy or unusual farming activities, woodland management (felling and burning), recreational activities and also the over-enthusiasm of visiting bird watchers can cause nest desertion or allow crows to steal the eggs. Prolonged disturbance at critical periods in the breeding cycle (nests with eggs or small young) should be avoided or delayed wherever possible. Intentional disturbance, arising from the activities of egg-collectors or unlicensed photographers, is a matter for the police and those involved can be fined heavily or even sent to prison.

When eggs or chicks are seriously at risk, abandoned by the adults or from a shortage of food, the Watcher may, with the landowner's consent, arrange for them to be collected from the nest, under licence, and taken to be artificially hatched or reared before being returned to wild foster parents at 4-5 weeks old when well feathered. You can help by: Keeping a note of all kites displaying nesting behaviour and reporting them to your local Watcher. Informing your local nest-watcher AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you find a dead or injured kite near a nest. Wherever possible avoid noisy, unusual or prolonged disturbance near the nest (within 400m), during April and May (tree-felling, fencing, pond-digging etc.). If you have to conduct some unusual activity near an occupied nest contact the Trust so that we may come and monitor the situation or offer advise on how disturbance may be minimised.

Please remember these points:
***: If visitors or birdwatchers closely approach an occupied nest their presence may cause serious disturbance. Most visitors will respect a polite request to withdraw, although access problems do arise when a public footpath passes close to an occupied nest. Once intruders have been informed that they are causing a problem, persistent and continuing disturbance could be classed as "reckless disturbance" and subject to special penalties under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000). In extreme cases contravention of this Act could lead to a prison sentence. Both adults flying and calling above a nest at the same time during the incubation period usually means something is wrong, and in urgent need of attention. ***:

The Red Kite is a species specially protected by law. An occupied nest of the Red Kite is similarly protected and may only be approached legally by holders of a licence issued by the statutory nature conservation authority (in Wales this is the Countryside Council for Wales). This licence authorises a named individual to inspect nests for scientific and conservation purposes or for photography. The licences must be carried by the holder on all occasions and produced on request. Licenses do not provide the holder with any right to enter onto private land without the permission of the owner.***

Our native trees need to be protected and encouraged to regenerate naturally. Over the last 100 years many have been felled and replaced with conifers. Many others have just died from old age and are not being replaced because grazing animals eat the seedlings and prevent regeneration.

If you are the owner of a woodland supporting kites, or which appears suitable for kites, please ensure that it is not allowed to die from neglect. Positive woodland management, giving encouragement to natural regeneration over a period of years, will produce a healthy permanent tree canopy suitable for nesting kites and other woodland birds, and also a source of valuable timber.

Most woodland owners now qualify for management grants.
Coed Cymru manage a free advisory service providing mimpartial and environmentally sound advice on all aspects of woodland management and the supports chemes available -