Red Kite in Bavaria: Threatened with extinction – hope through return!

Red Kite in Bavaria: Threatened with extinction – hope through return!

The red kite is a particularly vulnerable bird in Bavaria and is increasingly becoming the focus of conservation work. In recent years, its population in the Weilheim-Schongau district has developed positively, after the population in the region was still critical around 15 years ago. At that time there were hardly any breeding pairs and hardly any sightings in neighboring Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Today we can happily report an upswing. This phenomenon is closely related to the climatic changes that are driving the red kite from the north and northeast into new habitats. Again Mercury highlights, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen basin and other areas are now important territories for this majestic bird of prey.

The red kite is not only considered an integral part of the regional fauna, but also bears the title of Germany's heraldic bird. Over half of the world's population of an estimated 21,000 to 25,500 couples live in Germany, with the majority being found in the new federal states. The decline of over 30 percent in Germany since the 1990s cannot be overlooked. This makes initiatives that support the red kite all the more important.

Protection projects and initiatives

An exemplary project is the joint project “Red Kite – Land for Living”, which was carried out from 2014 to 2020. The main focus here was on improving food availability and breeding conditions for the red kite. The German Wildlife Foundation plays a crucial role by providing individual advice to farmers and other land users. This advice was aimed at red kite-friendly land use so that the bird's habitat could be optimised.

In addition, the State Association for Bird Protection in Bavaria (LBV) supports further measures to protect the red kite. This bird of prey is not only considered a symbol of nature conservation, but is also an important indicator of the health of local landscapes. In order to sustainably protect its breeding season and habitats, specific initiatives have been launched in various regions that also record sedentary populations of the red kite.

Habitat and way of life

The red kite is a remarkable bird of prey that reaches a height of up to 70 cm and has an impressive wingspan of up to 1.65 m. Its rustic red plumage and distinctive, deeply forked tail make it easily recognizable. The bird prefers to live in highly structured landscapes and avoids large, closed forest areas. The large number of grassland areas and regular mowing offer excellent hunting opportunities.

The red kite's hunting areas include agricultural areas, fish-rich waters and also places with garbage dumps that serve as a food source. However, threats from intensively farmed farmland, electricity pylons and wind turbines pose a constant challenge to the survival of this bird species.

The red kite is not only an impressive sight in the sky, but also an important part of our ecosystem. Its resurgence in Bavaria shows how important targeted conservation measures are to ensure that it continues to be a familiar sight in our landscape. So it remains to be hoped that the red kite will continue to shape our image of local nature in the years to come.