Monday, 06 February 2012 13:06

The discovery of a ninth dead red kite from illegal poisoning in Co Wicklow recently, has caused anxiety in the North County that the recently released kites may be in danger of being poisoned. The breeding female bird, which had been nesting on a farm near Redcross, Co Wicklow, was found near Brittas Bay recently. Dr Marc Ruddock, Red Kite project manager, told the County Leader that it was “a demoralising loss.” He explained: “These birds are specialist scavengers, that’s why they are finding these food sources which are sadly poisoned. They are designed to clean up the countryside. These illegal actions jeopardise local biodiversity.” Dr Ruddock called for anyone with information on poisonings to contact local National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and gardaí to help identify and confront individuals repeatedly and illegally poisoning wildlife. Penalties for illegally poisoning birds of prey can be up to €5,000 or 12 years in prison. Meanwhile, in the Lusk area, the National Parks and Wildlife Services is dealing with a spate of secondary poisonings of red kites caused by the legal control or rats and mice with chemical poison. Seven birds have already died after eating legally poisoned rodents.