Back in the UK: Red kites

July 5th, 2009 | by lucy |

Red Kites have become a symbol of Britain’s change of heart. For centuries an incredibly varied and long list of species, including kingfishers and hedgehogs, were systematically killed with the aim of wiping them off the face of the Earth. Laws were passed to eliminate wildlife, seen as competition for natural resources, and rewards were doled out by church wardens. The slaughter reached a peak in the 19th century with widespread gun use. It was a time when suburban sparrow shooting clubs competed for bounty payments. This phase of Britain’s relationship with the natural world is documented in detail in “Silent Fields” by Roger Lovegrove.

The Red Kite was persecuted with particular zeal, but a very successful conservation effort has saved the species from extinction in the UK. Reports of this happy story are inevitably accompanied by quotes from Shakespeare, because the playwright knew London when these scavenging raptors flourished there, appreciated for keeping the city’s filth in check. He called it “the city of Crows and Kites”.

Today’s growing Red Kite population has been built up from the few birds that survived in remote Welsh valleys and others brought in from Spain. There are now over 1,000 breeding pairs in the UK, the highest concentration found in the Chilterns.

Considering the long tradition of slaughter, it’s hardly surprising that cases of illegal poisoning, trapping and shooting of birds of prey continue to be highlighted by the RSPB and other conservation groups. A culture of valuing these species for their own sake is growing, but historically it’s a new tendency. Most people are awestruck by their encounters with Red Kites, entranced by their grace and five-foot wingspans. Some still think “vermin” and reach for the poison bottle.

The photo is from http://www.redkites.co.uk/

Check out Silent Fields by Roger Lovegrove

Some possibly unrelated posts

» The 1869 Sea Birds Preservation Act

» Red kites steal knickers

» Folklore about shearwaters

Posted in Birds of Britain, Birds of prey of Britain, Conservation issues in the UK | Tags: red kite extinction, red kites, red kites and shakespeare, red kites chilterns, silent fields roger lovegrove, wildlife in britain, wildlife persecution

Briefly
Urban bee project
March 1, 2010
The Co-op is further expanding its Plan Bee campaign by providing aspiring urban bee-keepers with free training and equipment. Life in the city can be better for bees than in the countryside, points out Chris Shearlock, the Co-op’s Environment Manager:
They can find flowers in city parks and gardens, and they are away from some of the pesticides that are threatening them on farmland. It’s a misconception to think that they won’t thrive in cities and towns. I’ve heard of honey being sold from apiaries around King’s Cross station in London.
In the end, what’s going to save the British honeybee, whose population has dropped sharply in the last 25 years, is its value to the economy: as fruit-tree pollinators and annual producers of 5,000 tonnes of honey, they’re worth 165m a year. Independent

Landscape blogs
February 24, 2010
There are now some excellent landscape blogs covering Britain. Here are a few:
- Some landscapes Landscapes evoked, depicted or transformed in the arts: painting, literature, music, film, etc. Britain and the rest of the world.
- Walking and writing. by Linda Cracknell. Good stuff in the Robert Macfarlane school.
- British Landscapes Photography with Derek Fogg.
- Write off the map
- Garden history girl
Above painting: J.M.W. Turner, Landscape, c1845

British birds in the news in February
February 17, 2010
Here is a quick round-up of latest British bird news:
- Ravens are not responsible for the dramatic declines in the numbers of wading birds seen in many parts of the UK uplands, according to the results of a new study. The Independent
- Remarkable photo of a flock of starlings in the shape of a rabbit. Daily Telegraph
- Bunting bounces back: one of Britain’s most threatened farmland birds is continuing to fight its way back after nearly disappearing completely, thanks to help from farmers in the south-west. Birdwatch
- Poisoned red kite found on Dumfries road RSPB
Archive of nature articles
February 11, 2010
We’ve put together this monthly archive of the articles on Britain nature.

Allotment fever
February 10, 2010
With more and more people wanting to grow their own fruit and vegetables, the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners have over 100,000 people on their waiting lists. The National Trust have responded to this demand by allocating land for “super allotments” or community farms. In return for a monthly fee, members will decide what should be grown, and have the opportunity to work on the farms, receiving a share of the produce. Daily Telegraph

Badger cull not worth it
February 10, 2010
A new report has found that badger culls are unlikely to be a cost- effective way of controlling bovine tuberculosis in cattle, with any the benefits “disappearing” after four years. BBC

Aggressive duck sex
February 8, 2010
Here’s an utterly daft one from The Daily Telegraph: Locals are concerned that the overly aggressive mating habits of a group of amorous ducks will force visitors away from Thirsk, the rural North Yorkshire market town, and destroy tourism. Read

Bypasses for eels
February 8, 2010
A new measure to help the rapidly declining British eel population will oblige owners of weirs and locks to install bypasses, allowing the fish to swim up and down stream unhindered. See mystery of vanishing eels.
Nature tourism in the UK
- Britain's oldest road
  
  The 87 mile-long Ridgeway National Trail is remarkable in being the oldest road in Britain and because you can still walk it, following the same route used since prehistoric times by travellers and, herdsmen. The route connects the Dorset and Norfolk coasts, passing over rolling, open downland to the west of the River Thames, and through secluded valleys and woods in The Chilterns to the east. It is littered with historical sites dating back to the iron age. Lots of details from the National Trail website here.
- Children's farms in the lambing season
  
  A trip to a children's farm is a great idea in the lambing season. The Guardian has a list of recommended places in their half-term holiday special, including Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley, where they are expecting no less than 300 lambs and 50 piglets to be born in February, with more expected for Easter. They have other attractions such a baby Alpaca called Snowy.
- Houseboat holidays in Devon
  
  These houseboat holidays in Devon look like a gorgeous way of spending a week or two.
  
  "This area boasts 35 acres of unspoilt countryside, offering the opportunity to stay on board a unique houseboat. Each widebeam barge is permanently moored on her own private jetty and sleeps 4 to 6 in ensuite cabins. Watch the busy wildlife right outside the galley window. Land organic rainbow trout for dinner. Be awed by the silent swoop of the barn owl. And in the evening as you watch the sun setting from the aft deck know that it has given its solar energy to power your lighting for the night ahead."
  
  More here
- Ice skating in the Fens
  
  For the first time in many years, the freezing conditions have been perfect for ice skating, allowing the inhabitants of the Cambridgeshire Fens to revel in a centuries-old tradition. The Guardian
  
  The Fens of East Anglia, with their meres and washes, networks of drainage ditches, slow-flowing rivers and easily flooded meadows, form an ideal skating terrain. Skates were introduced into Britain from Holland or France in the seventeenth century. It is not known when the first skating matches were held, but by the early nineteenth century they had become a feature of cold winters in the Fens. The golden age of fen skating was the second half of the nineteenth century, when thousands of people turned out to watch the top skaters. Wikipedia
- Sleeping in an igloo
  
  David Munt from Potter’s Bar, Hertfordshire braved the Arctic weather and sub-zero temperatures to spend a night in an igloo in his garden. He decided to sleep in his creation after spending the previous day making the igloo from snow and ice, with help from the children on his street. More here
  - How to make an igloo.
- Ideas for walking in the snow
  
  Yowie snowshoes were designed, fittingly, in Australia. They look like beach sandals attached to rubber flippers with a deep hexagonal tread and metal cleats. Extremely versatile and user-friendly, once you're strapped in, with body weight nicely spread out to avoid sinking, you can enjoy snow walks on the flat or more challenging treks up and down mountains. The material reportedly offers better insulation from the cold than more conventional heavy-duty snowshoes. They are also lighter, cheaper and easier to stow in your ruck sack.
  
  Another idea is to use ice grips - unobtrusive devices you can attach to your usual footwear to radically increase traction on slippery surfaces.
- Herding ducks with the Quack Pack
  
  Meirion Owen is an expert sheep dog handler, who’s been working with Border Collies since he was nine. He now travels around Britain, showing the skills of this intelligent breed at fairs, private parties and, increasingly, corporate days out. The other stars of the Quack Pack are a troop of Indian Runner ducks, who love to charge around at a fast pace in a tight group (with the occasional lone rebel). First of all, Owen gives a demonstration of how it’s done, instructing his dogs with only four commands to herd the ducks through an obstacle course. Then the spectators have a go.
  
  "We never try to embarrass anyone," he says. "I'll always try to help. With duck herding, there is a sense of the unexpected and seeing a manager lose control of his ducks is great entertainment for the staff."
  
  A recent tendency among lowland livestock farmers is to replace Border Collies with quads, and Owen would like to turn this around by promoting the many qualities of this breed. More information
- Living in the Stone Age
  
  The Woodcraft School runs various courses for acquiring skills that pre-historical man needed for survival. Bark, Bone and Antler is a particularly interesting 2-day course that explores the materials available to our primitive ancestors. Those attending will be taught about the sustainable harvest of bark, weaving crafts to make knife sheaths, folding crafts to make baskets and containers, and the preparation of bone and antler.
  
  This particular course will be held in May 2010 in West Sussex, with groups limited to 12, but there are many others to choose from.
- Parahawking in Wales
  
  Paragliders will use birds of prey to guide them to the best thermals. They often report that the birds are not afraid of them and will even approach out of curiosity. Parahawking takes this one step further. You're taken on a tandem paraglider and specially trained birds of prey will accompany you on your flight, rewarded by offerings of food. This unforgettable experience is available in Wales, organised by the Axis paragliding school
- Husky trekking in the Yorkshire moors
  
  With Pesky Husky Trekking you can become a musher for a day. Instead of a sledge, you stand on a specially designed non-motorised scooter. And instead of snow-covered arctic lands, the Siberian huskies whisk you through the Yorkshire countryside. The experience is only available between October and March, after which it becomes too warm for an energetic husky. You can start off on a practice lap or do a more advanced trek of up to two hours.