Please DO NOT feed Red Kites

Red Kites are truly magnificent birds but recently we have received numerous concerned enquiries about people feeding them. The Chilterns Conservation Board urges the public DO NOT feed Red Kites. Large numbers, attracted to food can become a public nuisance. There is also an environmental health risk if scraps of cooked or uncooked meat are left lying around or dropped by birds. Further, it is likely that high numbers may discourage song birds and other wildlife.

Red kites mainly scavenge on dead animals, but are opportunistic hunters, capable of killing small animals. They will feed on chicks, small mammals and invertebrates such as beetles and earthworms. Feeding them can encourage birds to become dependent on scraps which will not give them all the nutrients they need.