Rode Wouwen Milvus milvus in Overijssel

After initial breeding attempts in the late 1980s and a hiatus in breeding of several decades, Red Kites are now gradually expanding in the province of Overijssel in the eastern Netherlands. Between 1977 and 1992 just four breeding cases were recorded. Red Kites have been annual breeding birds since 2012, with 4-7 territories registered each year. The majority of breeding pairs (39% of 33 territories) settled in historic estates (which occupy only 7% of the provincial acreage of 332.562 ha). Estates have changed very little compared to the surrounding landscape (especially farmland), and have restricted access to the public (hence relatively quiet). The distribution of Red Kites is rather scattered, consistent with low site tenacity of breeding pairs (only four sites were occupied >1 year). Of 28 occupied nests in 1977-2019, ten failed. Breeding output was 1.1 nestlings per pair and 2.4 nestlings per successful pair.