Red kite Conservation
Giving Wings to the Future of the Red Kite
From 2014 to 2020, EDP supported the project “Actions for the conservation of the red kite in Castilla y León”, with the aim of promoting the conservation of the red kite, a species that is endangered on the Iberian Peninsula. Thanks to this project, it was possible to deepen knowledge about the species, its distribution, population and trends, as well as to identify the main threats it faces.
Main Objectives of the Programme
The programme aims to deepen the understanding of the red kite’s biology, mainly through the use of GPS transmitters on various specimens, in order to study their local, dispersive and migratory movements; how they use the territory, the availability of food resources, and the causes of unnatural mortality.
This approach makes it possible to:
- Implement actions that promote and increase food resources.
- Minimise the causes of unnatural mortality of the species.
- Increase monitoring and reduce disturbance during the breeding season and while staying in winter shelters.
- Promote awareness and outreach programmes aimed at the public.
The Book “The Red Kite. Biology and Conservation”
As part of this project, the book “The Red Kite. Biology and Conservation” was published, the result of over five years of study, analysis and monitoring of the red kite, written by some of Spain’s most renowned and experienced ornithologists. The work presents data on the taxonomy, biology, demographics, threats, and conservation of this bird of prey worldwide.
The authors carried out a global literature review on the distribution and population of the red kite, making this publication the most extensive, detailed and up-to-date compendium of information available on the species.
