Wallingford: 'Red kites stealing food from public'

The town council has considered placing posters around the town and starting a social media campaign to spread awareness about issue.

Cllr Steve Holder said: “There’s been a few reports that have come into the office of people having food stolen, and we’re looking at what we can do to raise awareness of kites - predominantly, it’s to stop people feeding them.

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“We have got an amazing bird released into the wild and the reason they are doing this is because people are feeding them. That makes them more tame.

“I have seen people throwing chicken on the top of their roofs in gardens and I have seen somebody in the Bull Croft sitting down and throwing their fish and chips onto the ground.”

Some have reported incidents with red kites on social media.

Kim-lin Hooper said: “Me and my six-year-old son got suddenly swooped on by a red kite at the Bull Croft yesterday while having a snack on the grass. A friend said someone was feeding them there later the same day so that would explain it.

“Please don't feed the red kites. It makes them associate people with food, then they get a bit too bold for comfort. Luckily no scratches this time but I think its wing or some part of it gave me a right old thump on the head and it's very sore.

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“Let's keep support for these lovely birds strong and watch them in the skies.

"They can get all they need to eat through scavenging and it’s a better diet for them when they eat the whole animal. RSPB and many other organisations don't recommend feeding them.”

Another social media user added: “A red kite swooped in and tried to snatch food out of my hand at the kid’s playground near Waitrose today.

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“Luckily my three-year-old boy was left unharmed, but I have some scratches on my hand.

"It really took us by surprise. Please be careful and avoid giving your kids snacks or food at the playground or be very cautious.”

The town council is working with the Chilterns Conservation Board on methods to discourage feeding, and a member of the board spoke at a council meeting on Monday, July 24.

Cllr Holder said: “We don’t want the red kites to be ostracised and persecuted again, but it’s about getting the balance right.”

Between 1989 and 1994, kites from Spain were imported and released into the Chilterns as part of a major conservation project to reintroduce the birds.