Police are appealing for information after the confirmation of the shooting of a protected Red Kite outside Mayobridge, Co. Down. The bird was found struggling on the ground in farmland off the Cullion Road and on Saturday 20th April 2024 and is believed to have been shot in the area on the Thursday or Friday of that week. Police would like to thank locals for their assistance in bringing the bird to a local vet where it unfortunately had to be put to sleep.
The Red Kite is a protected species in Northern Ireland, as are all birds of prey as are all birds of prey which includes buzzards, sparrowhawks and peregrines. The killing or trapping of birds of prey can result in a £5000 fine or up to 6 months custodial sentence per offence. The Red Kite which was shot is especially rare, given it carried a leucistic gene which made it appear paler than normal, almost white. This kite was nicknamed ‘Vivienne’ due to its identifying wing-tags brown-pink 6V, after one of the red kite volunteers who monitors the species throughout Northern Ireland each year. ‘Vivienne’ was well known in the area and throughout the Mournes. It was fledged outside Moneyslane in 2018 and could been seen regularly in the Moneyslane – Rathfriland – Mayobridge areas.
Red kites are scavengers and mainly eat dead animals, as well as rats and corvids such as jackdaws and magpies. They are often found hunting for rats around silage storage areas and rubbish dumps. They play an active role in the ecosystem managing pest species. Despite their large size (wingspan of 175cm) they are nothing to fear and no threat to livestock.
Dr Eimear Rooney from the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG) said “to think that someone has deliberately targeted one of these beautiful creatures is incredibly upsetting and is a real setback for the future of the species here. I have been involved with Red Kites in Northern Ireland since the first reintroduction in 2008 and the population should be much further ahead than it is. The reality is that the species is being held back due to illegal killing”.
“Most people have really taken the birds to heart and are happy to see them in our skies again, as it should be. These birds are part of our natural heritage, but they were lost from our skies due to human persecution and it is going that way again. If people are mistakenly shooting protected wildlife then they aren’t fit to hold a gun licence. There are no excuses. Also, we have been told of individuals who are specifically shooting red kites for fun. They are robbing every one of us of our right to a healthy ecosystem. People should be outraged. I urge anyone with information about this case or any other raptor persecution case, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to contact PSNI on 101, or report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Shelagh Henry runs Red Kites Tours NI. She fell so in love with the species after first working closely with the reintroduced birds 15 years ago that she made it her business to give others the same experiences she has had. Shelagh had watched Pink 6V on many occasions. She said “I was very upset and annoyed when I saw the injured bird being carried towards me by the farmer who had found it. I recognised it immediately as Pink 6V aka ‘Vivienne’, a bird very much known to me. Named after my friend Vivienne who was present when it was tagged as a chick in 2018. It is so devastating to see an injured Red Kite, especially for those of us, who have been involved in the Red Kite reintroduction project since the beginning. We have monitored these birds down the years, but to then discover that someone has deliberately shot this beautiful bird, I feel sad and sickened”.
Shelagh continued “My life’s work is to educate and enthuse everyone about the Red Kites that inhabit our landscape, to encourage everyone to appreciate them as an asset to the countryside. They are the farmer’s friends that clean up all the detritus. The lamb’s tails when they drop off, the cleaning left in a mess in the field after the cow has calved, the carrion, road kill and rodents about the fields and yards.”
“You feel your spirits soar as you watch these magnificent birds flying free, twisting, wheeling and gliding on the wind.”
Shelagh’s husband Kenny runs Rathfriland Veterinary Clinic and was unfortunately called upon when Pink 6V was found injured. “Initially we could see that the red kite had a severely broken wing and the wound was already infected. The break was so bad that the agonising decision was made to put the bird to sleep.” Given that there was no logical explanation for the break, no wind turbine or overhead wires for example, an X-ray examination was carried out at the veterinary clinic. “It was then that we discovered she had been shot. There were gunshot pellets in her neck and wing. She will likely have broken her wing after a fall from height as a result from shooting”.
The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group would like to thank the member of the public from their quick thinking in bringing this bird to the care of the veterinary team and to Kenny Henry and his team for the care they showed to the bird. Unfortunately recovery was not possible in this case and the life of another endangered bird of prey was lost.
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information surrounding this case. If you saw any suspicious activity in the Cullion Road area of Mayobridge, Co. Down on Thursday 18th April or Friday 19th April, or in the days leading up to this, please contact PSNI and quote reference number 1229.22/04/24
We urge the public to remain vigilant for any suspected wildlife crime. If you find a sick or dying bird which may have been poisoned please do not touch it and call PSNI on 101 immediately. Toxic substances dangerous to human health are found as baits in our countryside. If an incident is ongoing please call 999.
Notes
- Crimes which target birds of prey are referred to as Raptor Persecution, and often comprise illegal shooting, trapping or poisoning events and may occur at any time of the year. It is also illegal to cause disturbance to all raptors or damage their nests or eggs.
- Wildlife legislation, namely the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Act 2011 protects all birds of prey from disturbance and/or destruction by special penalties.
- Penalties can reach a 6-month custodial sentence and/or up to a £5,000 fine per offence.
- More information on raptor persecution and confirmed incidents in Northern Ireland can be accessed in the Raptor Persecution Reports at https://www.wildlifecrimeni.org/copy-of-wildlife-crime-northern-ire-1
Hawk-Eyes 