Wing Tags

In order to monitor the movements and survival rates of Red Kites in the reintroduction areas, all released, and many wild-fledged, birds are fitted with plastic wing-tags so that they can be identified. This is possible with binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto lens camera.

The wingtags normally fall off after four or five years. Occaisionally they remain for longer, the bird on the right was tagged in 1998 and could still be seen with one tag remaining after 9 years.