In this corner of SE England the
Red Kite has been re-introduced in recent years having been persecuted almost to extinction by Victorian game keepers.
With a wing span approaching six feet, it's an impressive bird even if it does lack the gravitas of the vulture.
They are so distinctive that people leave out food for them in the hope of getting a closer view.
Unfortunately, this has caused the occasional problem as experienced at a children's picnic. Read on...
Quote:
A toddler got head injuries when a greedy bird of prey tried to steal a cupcake.
You’d think you could eat a cupcake and have a moment of peace.
That you could eat it at a birthday party without being hassled by worries or stresses. That the universe would allow that. Right?
But sometimes, something comes out of the blue and hits you right in the head.
It might not be right – or even usual – but sometimes that thing is a bird of prey.
That’s what happened to Ava Edgar-Francis, who was just trying to mind her own business and eat her party food when the red kite swooped and sank its talons in, leaving her with head injuries.
The three-year-old has been left terrified of birds after the predator swooped down on the picnic at Watlington Park, near Stokenchurch.
Parents quickly took their children home, ending the party early, as they feared another attack, with more red kites circling above.
Ava’s mum Debbie Francis, of Slade Road, said: ‘She was completely hysterical. It was such a shock and she is now petrified every time she sees a big bird in the sky.’
Ms Francis said: “There is a lot of talk on Facebook about it, and many suspect that other people are feeding them because they like seeing them come down.
The birds were saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest running protection programmes, and has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland.
However, bird charity the RSPB are now discouraging people from feeding the birds of prey as they continue to thrive across Bucks.
‘We discourage people from feeding the red kites in their gardens and public places,’ a spokesman said. ‘The kites are thriving in their natural environment, eating their natural diet throughout the year.’
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Metro
Impressive, to say the least.
