Episode 11: Red Kite

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Whose trill can be heard from the clouds…?

 

With the new ” Lend an ear to nature” campaign, the Mouvement Ecologique wants to draw attention to these often-threatened species and their habitats – and combine it with a guessing quiz on the noise of the animal in question.

A total of two short videos on a species of animal from our localities and landscapes will be published each month from the end of April until October.

Guess with us – which animal is making that sound? and win a Naturata voucher worth €50 per spot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c) Tobias Wagner

Did you recognise the red kite in the clip?

The red kite is one of the most colourful birds of prey in Europe and the largest bird of prey in Luxembourg. It can be recognised from afar by its rust-red, deeply forked tail, which it uses like a rudder in its elegant flight manoeuvres. It is not without reason that it is called ‘Roude Schéierschwanz’ in Luxembourgish. Its call, a bright, trilling ‘Wiiiu-wiiiu’, sounds almost like a songbird, but fits perfectly with its graceful flight.

In autumn, most red kites in Luxembourg migrate to southern Europe or North Africa. Groups of 10–20 or more red kites can be seen circling in the thermals (rising warm air) on sunny days. This allows them to gain altitude quickly and cover longer distances with ease.

 

 

 

Way of life

(C) Marko Koenig

Red kites build their large nests in forest, usually on tall trees at the edge of sparse forests or in small copses. However, they mainly search for food in open countryside: in meadows, fields and at the edges of fields. They hunt small mammals such as mice, but also insects and birds. They often eat carrion, thus playing a role in Central Europe that vultures play in more southern regions.

Red kites can often be seen following tractors during mowing, as they have learned that many animals are killed or injured in the process and are therefore easy prey. The red kite is therefore an opportunist in a sense: this helps it to survive in many areas where specialised birds of prey have already declined. By eating carrion, it benefits from the intensive use of agricultural land, for example from frequent cutting on silage fields.

Nevertheless, this opportunism has its limits: if the landscape becomes completely monotonous (e.g. due to large-scale monocultures, ‘cornification’, lack of structural elements such as fallow strips, unmown field margins or hedges, etc.), the availability of prey decreases. As a result, food supply becomes more difficult and, above all, breeding and rearing success suffer greatly.

 

Threats to the red kite

The red kite’s habitat is increasingly fragmented by large agricultural surfaces and development of settlements and roads. Fields and meadows, which used to be relatively small, are becoming ever larger monocultures that offer little food. They are often so heavily fertilised or densely sown that the red kite cannot reach its prey on the ground. Where hedges, field margins and small wooded areas once provided variety, today there is an open agricultural landscape with significantly fewer hunting opportunities.

The use of poisons is also problematic: when mice are controlled with rodenticides, red kites sometimes find the carcasses and poison themselves. There are also repeated cases of illegal poisoning or shooting in Luxembourg .These dangers are a very serious problem during the red kites’ annual migrations to their wintering grounds.

Another problem is when waste is disposed of improperly in nature – because red kites like to ‘decorate’ their nests with special materials, and they also use plastic waste for this purpose. This can have a negative impact on the chicks’ chances of survival, as they can become entangled in the rubbish or moisture can accumulate in the nest.

Finally, wind turbines can also be problematic for red kites. Birds of prey can collide with rotor blades while searching for food. It is therefore essential to identify red kite territories and breeding sites when planning potential wind farms. During sensitive phases – such as the breeding season, harvesting and mowing – wind turbines should either be shut down or intelligent collision avoidance systems installed that automatically shut down the turbine as soon as an endangered bird is detected.

 

Distribution in Luxembourg

The red kite is only found in Western Europe. This means that Luxembourg is located in the middle of its core range and therefore has a special responsibility for the survival of this species. Recent studies show that there are around 63–66 breeding pairs in Luxembourg. They are particularly common in the open land regions of the Gutland, as well as on the high plateaus of the Öslings and in the east of the country. However, its population has declined recently and it is therefore classified as endangered on Luxembourg’s Red List.

 

How can you help the red kite?

  1. Protect the red kite’s habitat

Support nature conservation organisations that maintain or promote diverse, small-structured landscapes – this creates habitats for the red kite and its prey. Actively approach your local council to ensure that appropriate projects are implemented on their land.

  1. Protect the landscape and nature through conscious consumption

Buy products from farmers who promote a diverse landscape with orchards, late-mown hay meadows and hedges, such as those involved in the ‘Natur genéissen’ project https://naturgeneissen.lu/

  1. Secure nesting trees and take care when working in the forest

If you own forest land, protect the trees on which nests have been built. These must not be felled and, in general, disturbances caused by work during the red kite’s breeding season (February–July) should be avoided.

  1. Reduce hazards: do not use poison and dispose of waste in the rubbish

Do not use pesticides and, in particular, poison against mice, as they can also harm red kites via the food chain. And the last, seemingly obvious point: waste should always be disposed of in the rubbish – never in nature!

 

Further information on the red kite can be found here: