Overview

'thoroughly recommended' —Country-side magazine The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) – one of our most elegant and impressive birds of prey – has a varied and dramatic history in Britain. Having been driven perilously close to extinction, it has now made a welcome comeback, in part through one of the most successful reintroduction projects ever undertaken. This beautifully illustrated book follows the birds through the ups and downs of the year, from the rigours of raising young during the warm summer months to the struggle for survival in the depths of winter. Interspersed with the monthly accounts, are chapters on the history of the Red Kite in Britain, the reintroduction programme, the threats it still faces, and its status elsewhere in Europe. Red Kite biology is explored from nest construction, egg laying and nest defence, through to juveniles leaving the nest and learning to live independently. The book concludes with an overview of Red Kite status throughout their range. With a foreword by Mark Avery.

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9781784272005

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Reviews

We learn in this book how the species was protected in the 15th century because of its role as a street cleaner. .... As a result of the sanitation of urban areas, the possibilities of finding food decreased and persecution increased. The downward spiral began in the 1700s. At the end of the 19th century, only a few couples remained in a remote part of Wales. The numbers reached their lowest level in the 1930s but, since the species has been protected, a (very) slow recovery has started. The reintroduction program, to which Ian Carter collaborated personally, was organized in several parts of England, in Scotland and Ireland. -- Walter Belis * Alauda * Immediately I picked up The Red Kite's Year I was smitten. Written around the yearly cycle of survival, mating and nest selection, habitat interaction, food, growth and dispersal, it also covers history, documented fieldwork and personal experiences. Ian Carter's text is wonderfully illustrated by Dan Powell, whose lively line escapes the pages and makes one want to rush to spot one of these impressive creatures. A book for the enthusiast, The Red Kite's Year is certainly recommended. -- Barry Larking * ECOS *

Two fine naturalists giving a new slant on an ongoing story through very good fieldwork. A thoroughly recommended book of an outstanding natural history success story. -- Steve Rutherford * Country-side magazine (British Naturalists' Association) * While not a detailed scientific appraisal of the reintroduction of the Red Kite, this book does provide a very readable account of one of the most successful conservation projects ever attempted in the UK. It is highly recommended for all aficionados of this charismatic raptor, which is now well established in many areas of the UK and hopefully will soon become a regular sight throughout these islands. -- John Clark * British Birds * We learn in this book how the species was protected in the 15th century because of its role as a street cleaner. .... As a result of the sanitation of urban areas, the possibilities of finding food decreased and persecution increased. The downward spiral began in the 1700s. At the end of the 19th century, only a few couples remained in a remote part of Wales. The numbers reached their lowest level in the 1930s but, since the species has been protected, a (very) slow recovery has started. The reintroduction program, to which Ian Carter collaborated personally, was organized in several parts of England, in Scotland and Ireland. -- Walter Belis * Alauda * Immediately I picked up The Red Kite's Year I was smitten. Written around the yearly cycle of survival, mating and nest selection, habitat interaction, food, growth and dispersal, it also covers history, documented fieldwork and personal experiences. Ian Carter's text is wonderfully illustrated by Dan Powell, whose lively line escapes the pages and makes one want to rush to spot one of these impressive creatures. A book for the enthusiast, The Red Kite's Year is certainly recommended. -- Barry Larking * ECOS *

Immediately I picked up The Red Kite's Year I was smitten. Written around the yearly cycle of survival, mating and nest selection, habitat interaction, food, growth and dispersal, it also covers history, documented fieldwork and personal experiences. Ian Carter's text is wonderfully illustrated by Dan Powell, whose lively line escapes the pages and makes one want to rush to spot one of these impressive creatures. A book for the enthusiast, The Red Kite's Year is certainly recommended. -- Barry Larking * ECOS *

Author Information

Ian Carter worked as an ornithologist for Natural England and its predecessors for over 25 years before taking early retirement. He has a long history of involvement with raptor conservation, including the reintroduction of the Red Kite. Dan Powell is an award-winning wildlife artist and naturalist, whose drawings and paintings have been published in numerous books and journals.

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