Red Kites at Gigrin Farm - Keith Fowler

On the last Sunday of November Jackie and I went to Gigrin Farm near Rhyader to visit the Red Kite Feeding Station. The snow was on the ground; the sky was crystal clear and a wonderful shade of blue; the sun was shining ... and it was bl**dy freezing - who says watching nature is comfortable?

We arrived about half an hour before the feeding time to find the trees surrounding the feeding area packed with birds anticipating an easy meal. Nearest and boldest were the rooks and crows. Then a tree full of buzzards and a little further away several trees full of red kites. Kites were arriving in anticipation all the time.

When the tractor arrived with the food the kites took to the air; the others stayed where they were! As the food was distributed the sky was taken over by the acrobatics of the kites as they swooped down for the food. They take their food on the wing only landing by mistake. And they missed as often as they succeeded in picking up food.

Eventually as the kite feeding frenzy died down the rooks and crows moved in. The Buzzards never got a look in, nor did they try.

After the feed many kites settled in the nearest trees making spotting birds with wing tags and the leucistic ones easier.

The farmer reckoned that there were about 500 kites. Some travel up to 50 miles for this feed. The snow had prevented deliveries of meat so the kites were on short rations - probably the reason why the buzzards missed out.

The food is intended as a supplement to the kites' normal diet, it is not intended as a substitute for their natural diet. However, it does seem an artificial set up, but, I suppose, not really different to feeding birds in the garden.

Whatever your view on the rights and wrongs it was a fantastic sight, enhanced by the weather conditions. And one must marvel at the body clock of the kite that ensures it arrives at Gigrin at the right time!

I have posted some photographs in the album "Gigrin".

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Keith Fowler
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