![]() Its lack of fear of man made it an easy target.īy the end of the nineteenth century the last remaining birds- no one knows exactly how many, perhaps no more than 10 or 12 pairs survived against all odds in a sparsely populated region of central Wales. The development in the manufacture of firearms made the task of extermination easier for the hunters. The Kite fell out of favour due to its predation on young domestic fowl and game birds. It was once a common sight in the towns and cities of medieval Britain but then during the 18th and 19th centuries there followed a period of relentless persecution at the hands of man almost to the point of extinction of the species in the British Isles. In Wales it is known as “Boda Wennol” (Swallow Buzzard) or “Barcud Coch” (red kite) or even “Boda Chwiw” (whistling kite) which is a reference to its distinctive call. In Britain it was known in the past by a number of local names the most widespread being “Glead” or “Gleade” and “Puttock” a name which Shakespeare knew it by. The present day name for the kite is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘cyta’. It is a diurnal raptor and a member of a family of birds called ‘Accipitridae’ which includes the kites, old World vultures, harriers, hawks, eagles, buzzards etc Both sexes of the Red Kite are similarly coloured but as in many birds of prey the female is slightly larger than the male but this is difficult to discern in the field. The Red Kite is an impressive bird of prey which thankfully nowadays is a familiar sight to many people living in some areas of the United Kingdom. Its golden orbed eyes surveying all below it to catch sight of the unsuspecting prey or the lifeless carcass to feast upon" ![]() With twisting deeply forked swallow-like tail and long slightly angled wings it turns this way and that soaring and spiralling forever skyward catching the unseen breath of wind or an uplifting warm air thermal. "With a wingspan of five & a half feet (nearly 2 metres) the Kite is graceful and elegant in flight pale grey head and striking almost translucent white underwing patches and black tips on the primaries contrast with warm orange or russet coloured feathers on the body and upper tail which in good light appear to glow like red embers as if touched by some earthly fire gives the kite an almost ethereal appearance.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |