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Red kite's have been reported stealing food from barbecues
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Red kite 'stole my sausage'

By Laura Herbert
April 27, 2012

Police in Wokingham have received two reports of red kites stealing cooked food from a hot barbecue.

A kite has also been spotted taking a fully grown Mallard Drake off the water.

Anyone with confirmed reports of red kites killing young livestock or domestic pets should call police on 101.

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Most recent user comments 15 of 15

For the benefit of Mr Kite, I'll have a barbecue tonight, with sausages! I'll light it up at 10 to 6, when Mr Kite performs his tricks - a sausage-take! Having been some days in preparation, a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

And tonight Mr Kite is topping the bill......................

Arnold Bandsaw
11/05/2012 at 22:57

Some people dont know how lucky they are. My bird hasn't gone near my sausage for years....

R Matthews
30/04/2012 at 13:35

The whole objective of the blue bag scheme is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Surely making bags that cats and foxes can open and also leave some food for the red kites is entirely within this objective.

PoneRana, Wokingham
28/04/2012 at 11:11

Bob..... chances are that the Blue Bags will lead to an increase in Red Kites. When the cats and foxes have had finished poking around opening the bags, the food waste can be deposited on the ground. Along comes Mr. Kite for his free meal and voila! I only wish I was joking however the experts at WBC make better commedians than I ever could.

@No2MarkAshwell

Ivor Biggun, winnersh
27/04/2012 at 15:35

"Anyone with confirmed reports of red kites killing young livestock or domestic pets should call police on 101."

The complete myth that Red Kites take young livestock was responsible for their persecution which led to them almost becoming extinct in the British Isles in the first place.

They will take some live prey but small mammals (e.g. mice) is as big as it will tackle

The Wokingham Times shouldn't be regurgitating rubbish like this.

HatsOfDoom
27/04/2012 at 15:21

Obviously the correct action would be to have a kite cull similar to the badger cull proposed by the coalition government. That way we could have even more infighting between parties at the local level with the council saying that 10% of kites have fled the borough due to the adoption of blue bags and forced recycling!

Bob Fossil
27/04/2012 at 14:23

What a lot of codswallop.

Red kites are carrion birds - ie they only eat things that are already dead. They are also quite wary of damaging their wings so are very unlikely to go near structures like barbeques. The notion that they would try to tackle a live duck or a cat is just daft.

Incidentally the RSPB have discouraged people from leaving out scraps like bacon and sausages for kites because processed meat is too high in salt.

Jai
27/04/2012 at 13:53

How do I persuade the local kites to take the cat that completely wrecked my seed bed the other day? Alternatively should I dial 101 to report the vandalism?

PoneRana, Wokingham
27/04/2012 at 13:47

Whilst this news will leave most of the population of Berkshire in fear for their barbecued meals, Denise Woodage carries on, blissfully enjoying her back garden.

Nowtas, West Berkshire
27/04/2012 at 12:43

Might I suggest your guard your sausage if exposing it to the "great outdoors" this summer. Alfresco takes on a whole new meaning when there are hungry birds just gagging to munch on your hot pork sausage. Or choose hot chilli sausages - any bird taking that would surely soon drop it again - it could then be retrieved and put back onto the heat.

D6equj5, RG30
27/04/2012 at 12:17

So, why is this getting more press time than seagulls stealing chips? Discrimination I say!

Fluffball, Berkshire
27/04/2012 at 10:11

Who on earth has been having a BBQ it hasn't stopped raining!

BattyWokingham, Wokingham
27/04/2012 at 10:04

I thought the "101" number was to report dog poo ... or is that only in Reading? Can't both towns synchronise their "Emergency Police" numbers? I don't think there is a number to report sausage thefts in Reading though - perhaps we should get one.

D6equj5, RG30
27/04/2012 at 09:34

Now that, if videoed, would be a good use of my tax money!

Seriously though, when I was at university we were constantly assailed by seagulls doing the same thing. In Reading, it's pigeons. At least Red Kites are a bit more interesting.