Ore investigates the problem with red kites Bird experts are
asking the public to stop feeding red kites after reports of
them swooping down to steal food off school pupils. About 40
years ago there were only a few pairs of the birds of prey in
the UK and special projects have reintroduced them to the wild.
But the red kites have tried to take food from students in
Watlington, Oxfordshire. Pupils have been told not to eat their
lunches in the playing fields. One student, Joe, said: "Red
kites come and swarm around everyone when they're eating.
They've swooped down to grab it out of our hand." Red kites were
reintroduced to the Chilterns area in the 1990s after becoming
extinct in England. Red kite facts Became extinct in England in
1871 Typical diet of mice, moles, worms, small rabbits and
carrion Average wingspan 1.5m! A 2011 RSPB survey recorded 2,000
breeding pairs, an increase of more than 130% from the year
before. Bird experts says that people need to stop feeding the
red kites, which will encourage the