Red kite rescuers help research

A COUPLE who like to feed red kites have helped a university research project.

Hassan and Sue Omran, both 72, first became interested in the birds when they found an injured one near their home in Tokers Green in July 2015.

The bird could not fly, so Mr Omran took it home and contacted a voluntary organisation that supports injured birds of prey which said it was probably suffering from starvation.

The Omrans fed the wild bird and helped it recover until releasing it where they had found it.

The couple, who are both retired, then started to leave chicken out for the numerous red kites that fly over their home to ensure they did not go hungry.

However, they are careful to only feed the birds intermittently so they do not become dependent on the handouts.

Recently, the couple contacted researchers from the University of Reading and the University of Roehampton, who are investigating red kite feeding trends in the Reading area.

A 2015 study had suggested that residents loved the birds as up to one in 20 households told researchers they had fed red kites.

To understand what has changed in the eight years since then, the new study involved looking at the impact feeding red kites has on the birds, humans and the environment

Juliette Waterman, a researcher from the University of Reading, said: “Stories like Hassan and Sue’s are a great addition to the data we have collected.

“It confirms what we have long suspected of Reading’s red kites — that they are eating a lot more chicken thanks to the generosity of local residents.”

Herre De Bondt, a research student at the University of Roehampton, said: “Hassan and Sue’s story not only shows how people may start caring about wildlife but it also tells us what logic people base their feeding practices on. Gaining a better understanding of this is crucial if we want to ensure that people are feeding red kites well.”

Other participants interviewed for the research included three people who were either vegan or vegetarian but still chose to feed meat to red kites.

One participant said that he fed one red kite that visited him regularly. Another fed the bird so her neighbours could watch them swoop down to pick up the food.

The study is due to be published next year.