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Red kites swoop on children eating lunch in Watlington | Red kites swoop on children eating lunch in Watlington |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Pupils at a school in Oxfordshire say they have been targeted by red kites swooping down to take their food. | Pupils at a school in Oxfordshire say they have been targeted by red kites swooping down to take their food. |
One student at Icknield Community College in Watlington is said to have been scratched by one of the birds as he ate lunch in the market town. | One student at Icknield Community College in Watlington is said to have been scratched by one of the birds as he ate lunch in the market town. |
A farm worker said the increasingly bold kites were "sweeping up" chickens. Witnesses have also described seeing the birds perching on prams. | A farm worker said the increasingly bold kites were "sweeping up" chickens. Witnesses have also described seeing the birds perching on prams. |
Experts say the problem stems from people feeding the birds. | Experts say the problem stems from people feeding the birds. |
Pupils at the college have been told not to eat their lunches in the playing fields. | Pupils at the college have been told not to eat their lunches in the playing fields. |
'Need culling' | 'Need culling' |
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. | 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. |
"One Year 8 [student] had his hand scratched by one of them and had a tetanus jab." | "One Year 8 [student] had his hand scratched by one of them and had a tetanus jab." |
Red kites were reintroduced to the Chilterns area in the 1990s after becoming extinct in England. | Red kites were reintroduced to the Chilterns area in the 1990s after becoming extinct in England. |
There are about 500 to 600 breeding pairs in the area today. | |
Cathy Rose from the Chilterns Conservation Board said: "We should not encourage them to come down by putting additional food out. | Cathy Rose from the Chilterns Conservation Board said: "We should not encourage them to come down by putting additional food out. |
"Then their numbers will actually become balanced with the amount of food that nature can provide for them. | "Then their numbers will actually become balanced with the amount of food that nature can provide for them. |
"Let them survive naturally in the wild and they will control their own numbers that way." | "Let them survive naturally in the wild and they will control their own numbers that way." |
Ms Rose added that the red kites attracted tourists to the area. | Ms Rose added that the red kites attracted tourists to the area. |
"It's an area of outstanding natural beauty so it's already attracting lots of people, but the kites just give an added focus of interest for wildlife enthusiasts." | "It's an area of outstanding natural beauty so it's already attracting lots of people, but the kites just give an added focus of interest for wildlife enthusiasts." |
Susan Hemmache, who works on a farm in the area, said the birds were becoming bolder. | Susan Hemmache, who works on a farm in the area, said the birds were becoming bolder. |
"The red kites swoop down in our yard where we've got chickens and chicks and just sweep them up and take them away. | "The red kites swoop down in our yard where we've got chickens and chicks and just sweep them up and take them away. |
"I came out on my drive and saw something red in the road thinking it was a cat. It swooped up holding a squirrel with its tail hanging down. | "I came out on my drive and saw something red in the road thinking it was a cat. It swooped up holding a squirrel with its tail hanging down. |
"There are too many. They need culling a little bit." | "There are too many. They need culling a little bit." |
Wing Commander Dan Startup at RAF Benson said large flocks could be an issue for pilots. | |
"They can easily be sucked into jet engines. It's very difficult to avoid them so you could fly into them and there's an obvious hazard for helicopters in the area. | "They can easily be sucked into jet engines. It's very difficult to avoid them so you could fly into them and there's an obvious hazard for helicopters in the area. |
"They're a fantastic animal and we love seeing them around here. They're a protected species and we respect that but we discourage them from the local airfield." | "They're a fantastic animal and we love seeing them around here. They're a protected species and we respect that but we discourage them from the local airfield." |
Colin Wilkinson, a conservation officer for the RSPB in Oxfordshire, said: "There are sadly a minority out there who would love to take us back to the 19th Century and shoot, trap and poison all kinds of birds of prey. | Colin Wilkinson, a conservation officer for the RSPB in Oxfordshire, said: "There are sadly a minority out there who would love to take us back to the 19th Century and shoot, trap and poison all kinds of birds of prey. |
"Red kites are big, spectacular birds and I'm sure they're a bit scary close up but I think we need to respond to this kind of story with thought and care. " | "Red kites are big, spectacular birds and I'm sure they're a bit scary close up but I think we need to respond to this kind of story with thought and care. " |
Red kites were formerly widespread and common in the UK, but they were gradually killed off by farmers and gamekeepers. | Red kites were formerly widespread and common in the UK, but they were gradually killed off by farmers and gamekeepers. |
Mr Wilkinson added: "Red kites are a tremendous conservation success story and now a familiar sight. | Mr Wilkinson added: "Red kites are a tremendous conservation success story and now a familiar sight. |
"Most people are delighted to have red kites back in Oxfordshire as part of our bird community." | "Most people are delighted to have red kites back in Oxfordshire as part of our bird community." |