Re-introduction of the red kite into Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Summary

Red kites (Milvus milvus) had been absent from Ireland for centuries despite archaeological evidence of historic presence dating to the 11th century. The Golden Eagle Trust, in partnership with Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Welsh Kite Trust, began a five-year re-introduction in County Wicklow on Ireland's east coast, chosen for its mixed forestry habitat, lower rainfall, and growing buzzard population. The project planned to release a minimum of 100 kites sourced entirely from Wales, the last stronghold of native British stock, with at least 20 birds released annually. In year one, 30 Welsh kite chicks aged four to six weeks were collected, reared in wooden release cages for five to six weeks with minimal human contact, fitted with wing tags and tail-mounted radios, and blood-sampled for health and sex screening before release; the first Irish release followed in 2007. Post-release supplementary feeding stations were monitored daily and phased out once birds stopped attending, while weekly radio tracking continued. Extensive consultation with farmers and gun clubs, including a farmer exchange visit to Wales, built local support; after one kite was shot, the local landowner banned all shooting on his land in response. Fifty more kites were due for import in year two, with half destined for a parallel County Down release by the RSPB. The project rated itself Partially Successful, noting it is too early to judge the outcome but that the project has so far proceeded as planned.