CONCERNS are growing for the region’s red kite population after another of the birds was shot in North Yorkshire – the tenth to die in the past two months.

Confirmation yesterday that a dead red kite found near Harrogate had been shot is described as concerning news for conservationists.

Out of 500 red kites in the North-East and Yorkshire – including 100 breeding pairs – a significant percentage have been poisoned or shot in recent weeks.

Six have been killed in North Yorkshire, two in West Yorkshire, one in Huddersfield and another in Gateshead.

PC Gareth Jones, wildlife crime co-ordinator for North Yorkshire Police, said a post-mortem of the bird found at Timble Ings near Harrogate, confirmed it had been shot and he is now investigating.

“We usually have one or two killed every year, but to have this many is particularly bad,” he said.

In the past nine years out of ten, North Yorkshire has been named by the RSPB as the worst county in England for bird of prey persecution.

PC Jones said this is due to North Yorkshire being the UK’s biggest county and also home to a large number of shooting estates, with a significant economy generated by grouse, partridge and pheasant shooting.

This leads to conflict with birds such as peregrine falcons and goshawks, who feed on chicks.

Red kites feed on dead carrion such as rabbits or sheep and feed on chicks when this food is scarce.

PC Jones said: “A lot of birds of prey are persecuted by various sectors of society. I’m not blaming gamekeepers for everything - there are some who do a fantastic job for conservation - but there are some bad apples who do things that are illegal.”

Doug Simpson, co-ordinator of the wildlife organisation Yorkshire Red Kites, helped reintroduce the raptors to the region as part of a conservation project to boost critically low numbers more than ten years ago.

He said it is difficult to say how many of the birds have been killed recently, as they inhabit remote areas, but suspects the numbers killed to be much higher than official figures convey.

To report dead or injured birds of prey, or suspicious activity, contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC Jones.

PC Jones advised people not to feed wild red kites, as it can encourage unnatural behaviour and result in them eating food detrimental to their health.