100s of Red Kites but nothing else

Possibly in large numbers. Well I was not one of those redkites as I cannot fly ha ha.

We have had more of them about this year even breeding around this area, we have  see a lot when we go to Villefrance for shopping they seem to like the hills around there.

The Chilterns' is one of the areas where the remote was reintroduced they have spread over large areas around there. We have had them for several years here ,they do not seem to worry other birds ,we often see them and Buzzerds being mombed by jackdaws and crows, the ring neck parrakeets seem unfased 

On a trip up the M40 a couple of years ago  OH counted forty or more as we headed to Oxford

The Chilterns, Goring, was the first place they were introduced into England in the late 80s by bringing over some from Spain. They have since spread far an wide.

peedee

They are fairly common along the A34 corridor from Winchester up to Oxford. The odd one gets spotted right down here around the upper reaches of Portsmouth Harbour too although it's mostly kestrels and a few buzzards.

I have even seen a few as far north as MK. It would be odd that a reintroduction of variety of bird went so far as to dominate and drive out other varieties. I wonder if the sheer number of Red Kites is becoming a nuisance? We were in a Marlow park a couple of years ago and one tried to steal a chaps lunch out of his hand!

David

It would be odd that a reintroduction of variety of bird went so far as to dominate and drive out other varieties.

Since I posted the OP I have found at least one report that says other birds are driven out by large numbers of red kites. If this is true then the variety of birds in the Chilterns is definitely at risk.

peedee

Whilst Red Kites will eat very small live prey they are mainly eaters of carrion. They wouldn't normally take a full sized rabbit whereas a Buzzard would, so in small numbers they tend to co-exist.

However any bird of prey that congregates in large numbers and lives in that space will drive out other BoP. A lone Buzzard will hold it's own in a tussle with a Red Kite as its talons are bigger but RKs will gang up on Buzzards. It shouldn't really affect smaller songbirds etc. as they are not seen as competitors for food. If anything the smaller birds such as Blackbirds etc. shouldn't be prey for RKs unless they are unable to fly away or already dead.

The problem with the introduction of RKs has been that the become used to feeding stations for food so more and more of them are attracted to that area. If the feeding stations are stopped then they will sort themselves out with territories.

I looked on the RSPB web site and quite a few are lost due to eating rats that have been poisoned, RedKites are avid feeders of carrion. 

We see the occasional one down the SW corridor along the A303 but not many have reached us yet. Generally it looks like there is competition for food and some "field food" eg mice aren't doing as well.

Ours are totally wild and co exist with buzzards and corvids here. We leave well alone and dont go for the RSPB "Cash crop" mentality.

Don't understand your comments about cash crop? Are you talking about breeding/feeding station programmes where the public are involved? Here's some RSPB info link