Post by pigeonpie on Nov 11, 2009 9:11:43 GMT
Number of Red Kites in Menorca dangerously low
With the number of breeding pairs in Menorca dropping from 135 in the 1980’s to just 12 this year, the Red Kite is in danger of extinction on the island. The drastic decline in the Milvus Milvus population has been attributed largely to the illegal use of poison and to a lesser degree, electrocution by telegraph wires.
In the early 1980’s this majestic bird was a frequent sight in Menorca, with about 500 residing on the island. The following decade the numbers plummeted to around 15, with only five breeding pairs, and in 1998 the Balearic Government introduced a recovery plan which saw an increase in the population by 2006 when there were around 60 Red Kites, with 19 breeding pairs. However, the increased use of poisons in the last three years has resulted in the numbers dropping again, to today’s figure of just 12 breeding pairs.
A small minority of hunters view the Red Kite as competition for prey such as rabbits or partridges, the numbers of which are declining, and try to eliminate them by using poison, a practice which is illegal. In 2001 two hunters were found guilty of poisoning a breeding pair and two chicks (at that time, equivalent to 10% of the Red Kite population), and had their hunting licences revoked and were fined and given prison sentences. This had a dissuasive effect on other hunters and no more poisoned birds were found for the next four years.
However, the practice started again in 2006 and in order to combat it, the Balearic Department of the Environment has created an Anti-poison Canine Unit which will visit the island periodically. These dogs have been trained to detect poisoned bait in the hunting grounds, in an attempt to erradicate the use of poison and save the Milvus Milvus before it is too late.
With the number of breeding pairs in Menorca dropping from 135 in the 1980’s to just 12 this year, the Red Kite is in danger of extinction on the island. The drastic decline in the Milvus Milvus population has been attributed largely to the illegal use of poison and to a lesser degree, electrocution by telegraph wires.
In the early 1980’s this majestic bird was a frequent sight in Menorca, with about 500 residing on the island. The following decade the numbers plummeted to around 15, with only five breeding pairs, and in 1998 the Balearic Government introduced a recovery plan which saw an increase in the population by 2006 when there were around 60 Red Kites, with 19 breeding pairs. However, the increased use of poisons in the last three years has resulted in the numbers dropping again, to today’s figure of just 12 breeding pairs.
A small minority of hunters view the Red Kite as competition for prey such as rabbits or partridges, the numbers of which are declining, and try to eliminate them by using poison, a practice which is illegal. In 2001 two hunters were found guilty of poisoning a breeding pair and two chicks (at that time, equivalent to 10% of the Red Kite population), and had their hunting licences revoked and were fined and given prison sentences. This had a dissuasive effect on other hunters and no more poisoned birds were found for the next four years.
However, the practice started again in 2006 and in order to combat it, the Balearic Department of the Environment has created an Anti-poison Canine Unit which will visit the island periodically. These dogs have been trained to detect poisoned bait in the hunting grounds, in an attempt to erradicate the use of poison and save the Milvus Milvus before it is too late.
