Red kites adjusted their feeding during covid

A new study from the Swiss Ornithological Institute shows how dramatically red kites adapted their behaviour during the Covid lockdowns.

Researchers found that, before the pandemic, the birds often gathered near roads to feed on roadkill when natural food was scarce. But with traffic reduced, they shifted towards areas where people fed them directly.
Using GPS “backpacks” on nearly 200 young kites, scientists tracked how the birds resumed their roadside habits once lockdowns ended - while still visiting human feeders. 
Researchers say it’s a striking example of the species’ flexibility, and a key reason red kites continue to thrive in Switzerland.

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play