Waarschijnlijke vergiftiging van een broedpaar Rode Wouwen Milvus milvus in de provincie Utrecht

Rijn S. van, Jousma S. & Bos A. 2024. Probable poisoning of a breeding pair of Red Kites Milvus milvus in the central Netherlands. De Takkeling 32: 73-78. On 30 May 2023, both adult Red Kites of a breeding pair in the central part of the Netherlands were found dead in the proximity of their nest. Between 22 April and 17 May the female was recorded as incubating. Decomposition of the cadavers was too advanced to allow laboratory tests to trace poisons. Detailed analysis of the carcasses showed that the birds had not been shot. Body conditions were considered normal, based on biometrics, plumage and moult patterns. The apparent simultaneous death near the nest strongly suggests acute poisoning. Red Kites in The Netherlands have a long history with illegal poisoning. At least 45 out 55 dead Red Kites in 1975-99 were illegally killed with – mostly – strychnine, aldicarb and parathion (peaking in March-May). This state of affairs is further proved with the recent histories of Red Kites equipped with senders, which showed a mortality peak in March-May; the livers of two such males contained high doses of rodenticides.