The red kite population is on the rise in the Bautzen district. This year’s monitoring recorded 78 breeding pairs—more than ever before, according to the Neschwitz Bird Protection Station. Breeding success was confirmed for more than half of the pairs, and a total of 99 chicks were spotted. “The nests usually contain one or two chicks; three is more of an exception,” the report stated.
The birds of prey were banded in June. The procedure is not for the faint of heart and requires a head for heights. To reach the young kites, one must climb to their nests at heights of 13 to 24 meters using crampons. The young birds are then lowered to the ground in a bag to be measured, weighed, and fitted with an individual identification ring. Afterward, they are returned to the nest, where the adult birds readily accept their offspring again.
If the ring number is later read and reported, the red kites can be identified repeatedly, allowing scientific data to be collected. “The banding also has another positive side effect: Plastic waste is not uncommon in red kite nests and can pose a major danger to the growing chicks—it was only through nest inspections that it was possible to free young red kites that had already become entangled in twine, fishing line, or scraps of plastic,” the report stated.
